Planning approved for new cultural venue and cinema in Blyth
04 Jul 2023 ARCHIVED (over 3 months old) - view latest news
Planning permission has been granted for a new £14.7m cultural venue alongside significant improvements to the Market Place in Blyth town centre.
The new building will house a three-screen cinema, facilities for a range of events for all ages including live music, comedy, drama, dance and celebrations, creative and developmental play and a café. Jam Jar Cinema (CIC) will be the main operator of the venue.
Councillor Wojciech Ploszaj, Cabinet Member for Supporting Business and Opportunities at Northumberland County Council, said: “We are extremely pleased to see that planning permission for the new Cultural Venue and improvements to Market Place have been approved. We want to see a town centre everyone is proud of which serves the community, boosts trade for local businesses and attracts further investment.
“This major project responds to community feedback that the Market Place is no longer fit for purpose and will help to kick start the regeneration of the area so it's fantastic to reach this milestone with planning approval in addition to the welcome news announced earlier this year that Jam Jar Cinema will be coming on board to provide a new and exciting offer.”
Tania Love, Architect at FaulknerBrowns Architects said: “Our design celebrates Blyth’s rich cinematic heritage and reflects on the pride of the local community who wish to see a much more welcoming, positive and green town centre. We have worked to translate this into a design which will deliver a central attraction in the town centre which serves the whole community well. We hope that the new Culture Venue and Market Place will become the first major step in the renewal of Blyth for everyone’s benefit.”
Dan Ellis BEM, Jam Jar Cinema founder, said: “We’re very excited to hear that planning for this project has been approved. There will be more news to come as we prepare for opening this exciting new venue for everyone to enjoy. I’m looking forward to engaging with the community and partners in Blyth as we prepare to open the new venue next year.”
Alan Ferguson OBE, Chair of Blyth Town Deal Board and Owner of Ferguson’s Transport said: “The news this project has now been approved is fantastic news as it will completely transform the Town Centre.
“The announcement today is a huge step for the town helping us to deliver our ambitions to grow, renew and connect the town. Alongside the new Energy Central Campus at the Quayside and other major investments like the Northumberland Line this project will ensure the town has fantastic facilities and attractions on the doorstep”
Blyth Town Council Mayor Warren Taylor said: “Blyth Town Council welcomes the approval given to this major project to help kick start the regeneration and transformation of our town centre.”
“The Town Council plays an important role in delivering events and activities and a range of services in the town centre working closely with the County Council.
“This investment will deliver a fantastic town centre for all to enjoy and we will be working together with partners to plan for the renewal of the town centre once this project is delivered and a range of activities and events for all to enjoy as part of our annual events programme.
Cllr Kath Nisbet MBE, the County Councillor for Croft, said: “I’m really pleased we’ve reached the next milestone for this project and the new venue should be a real boost for the town.
“I’m looking forward to see work starting shortly.”
The project is being delivered as part of the £90m Energising Blyth Programme to grow, renew and connect the town and is funded by the UK Government, Northumberland County Council, and North of Tyne Combined Authority.
The venue has been designed by the award-winning FaulknerBrowns Architects, supported by LDA Landscape Architects.
The new flagship building will be a major attraction for the whole community and visitors to enjoy. The Market Place will feel more welcoming and safer and deliver that much needed buzz and vitality by bringing more people into the town centre, adding to the town’s current offer, and encouraging further investment.
The Market Place will also be significantly improved around the new venue including a threefold increase in green space on Market Place enhancing the site’s biodiversity, habitat creation, climate resilience and visual appearance of the town centre.
Features including new enhanced lighting and street furniture will create an improved space for events and performances. As part of the project, the public toilets will be refurbished and the remembrance garden next to St Mary’s Church will be enhanced.
This investment will provide a significant boost to Blyth’s culture and leisure offer, creating a new ‘anchor’ development which will attract more people into the town centre throughout the day and into the evening, providing residents and visitors with new reasons to visit the town centre.
The project reflects the towns proud heritage, being located on the site of the former central cinema and music hall which stood on the site until 1974, returning the area to its historic role as a cultural attraction.
Work will begin in summer 2023 starting with the site set up and enabling works prior to construction, with the venue expected to open in winter 2024.
During construction, disruption will be kept to a minimum behind hoardings that will be established around the centre of the Market Place. The area will continue to be accessible with all business remaining open and the weekly markets continuing to operate. Regular updates will continue to be provided to local businesses and market traders in the run up to construction getting underway.
On Thursday 27th July, the County Council is hosting a drop in event at The Keel Row Shopping Centre for the public and businesses focusing on the Culture Hub and Bridge Street improvements, between 2pm and 7pm.