The Eldon Chambers, a historic building located on Newcastle’s Quayside, is set to be transformed into a new boutique hotel, after developers won the backing of city planners.
Under plans approved by Newcastle City Council, the Grade II-listed Eldon Chambers building will be repurposed as a boutique hotel home to 26 guest bedrooms, a restaurant and bar.
The team behind the Cow Hollow Hotel in Manchester’s Northern Quarter have won permission to take over the derelict Tyneside building.
The building was most recently used as law offices, but has sat vacant since 2016.
In planning documents submitted to the council, the Cow Hollow developers promised a “total refurbishment” of the building, which will offer guests a “more luxury stay” than the major hotel brands already found on the Quayside.
The hotel will have 13 premium rooms on its first and second floors, with 10 further executive suites on the third floor.
Granting planning permission for the development on Wednesday, the city council said that the hotel project would “protect the building’s historic significance.”
The application promised to protect the building’s heritage, stating: “The proposed building is Grade-II listed and has lain vacant for many years. The introduction of this venue will enhance the area, create jobs, and develop a sustainable business. This development will complement the other facilities already on offer as the design takes into consideration the historic elements of the site to ensure the scheme maintains all listed qualities.”
“The proposal looks at a change of use and total refurbishment of the building. The exterior is to be untouched aside from signage and repairs in line with listed building policy. A bar and restaurant with back of house amenities is proposed on the ground floor, and hotel suites on subsequent floors. This reconfiguration as indicated in the drawings proposes to fully retain the decorative features of the building.”
Approval had previously been granted in 2016 to convert the building, which dates back to 1833 and began life as a merchant traders’ office, into a hotel, but that never went ahead and the permission lapsed.
