PLANNING applications have been submitted to redevelop the Emerson House site in Washington, Tyne and Wear.

The planning applications seek consent to build approximately 150 new homes, a new 74 bed Express by Holiday Inn Hotel and a Toby Restaurant on the 12.5 acre site.

As part of the £163m Private Finance Initiative to solve the Department of Social Security's accommodation problems in Newcastle and Washington, 1,700 DSS employees were relocated from Emerson House earlier this year to new offices at Waterview Park in Washington. Since then the site has remained vacant.

Demolition of Emerson House commenced during September and it anticipated to be completed by the end of the year.

Peter Cumming of Bryant Homes said: "We are excited with our proposed development of 150 private homes in this key residential area.

"Our development will be a mix of houses and apartments at a variety of prices.

"This scheme represents an excellent illustration of meeting government guidelines to recycle surplus employment sites for reuse."

Domici Donnini of Bass Leisure Retail, which will operate the new hotel added: "We are hopeful that planning consent will be granted early in the New Year enabling construction work to commence in the Summer