Victorian vault 'risks being lost' under city plan

Campaigners fear a piece of hidden Victorian architecture will be lost under a £128m city redevelopment.

The Forth Goods Yard in Newcastle is earmarked for 514 build-to-rent apartments and a 655-space multi-storey car park, under proposals being considered by the Labour-led city council.

The Newcastle Conservation Advisory Panel (NCAP) said it was "deeply disturbing" the "irreplaceable" undercroft, next to Central Station, would be "mostly demolished" as part of the regeneration bid.

Bloc Ltd, which is behind the plans, said an expert heritage assessment concluded it did not have "a level of significance that would justify full preservation", however only part of it would be demolished.

The vaulted undercroft is the only surviving feature of the former Forth Banks Goods Station, which was built between 1866 and 1871. It closed in 1963.

Together with The Northumberland & Newcastle Society, NCAP is calling for it to be protected.

In its objection, NCAP said the undercroft had been "instrumental" for regenerating the nearby Stephenson Quarter and Founders Place, considered the "birthplace of globally significant railway engineering".

"Forth Goods Yard is located within an area of the city that collectively gives context to the group richness of railway heritage, and the historic undercroft is an asset that we can ill afford to lose."

Historic England granted a Certificate of Immunity from Listing for the underground structure in May 2024 - guaranteeing it cannot not be listed or subject to a Building Preservation Notice until 2029.

NCAP said it was not consulted on that matter, which it said was "profoundly disturbing".

Historic England confirmed NCAP was not on its list of consultees and was not contracted as part of the process, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

A heritage impact assessment submitted with the application, made by Bloc and government property company Platform 4, said the development would require the demolition of the majority of the undercroft.

It describes it as having "very limited architectural significance as it represents only a fragment of the former Forth Banks Goods Station".

Nick Legget, development director at Bloc Ltd, said delivering the scheme in a "long-neglected area" was challenging, but developers intended to respect the site's heritage.

He said: "A portion of the undercroft will be retained, structurally protected and refurbished for future reuse.

"This will allow the retained arches to contribute to new public spaces and improved connections, while delivering safe, step-free access for people with disabilities that would otherwise not be possible."

He added the scheme would deliver "wider public benefits" and would "transform the heart of Newcastle".

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