Plans drawn up by engineering and environmental consultant Gifford for the restoration of the historic Tynemouth Station will go ahead now that planning permission has been granted for a sensitive new development at the southern end of the station.
The Victorian railway masterpiece was built in 1882 to serve the seaside town of Tynemouth, outside Newcastle. The large size of the station reflects the popularity of Tynemouth as an “excursion” destination but over the last few decades it has fallen into a very poor state of repair. The plight of the Grade II structure has been highlighted by English Heritage appearing on their register for buildings and structures ‘At Risk’.
Part of the station is still used by the short, two-car trains on the Tyne & Wear Metro and the site also houses a weekend open air market. Now Gifford’s client Station Developments has won permission to build a “local” retail store at one end of the station site which means restoration plans for the whole station can go ahead.
Gifford’s specialist team, led by Conservation Accredited Engineer James Miller, has completed a trial restoration of the enormous iron canopy over the station which is badly corroded. Working with architects Lathams and Hodder & Partners, the team has agreed a repair and conservation scheme with English Heritage and will remain on site once contractors are appointed to supervise the reconstruction.
Previous sensitive restoration and regeneration projects handled by Gifford have included the 1799 Coalport Bridge, the oldest vehicular bridge in the UK, the Victorian Rewley Road Station in Abingdon, Hastings Pier and Royal Clarence Yard, the former victualling yard for Portsmouth.
