Residents of the Bewick Court tower block in Newcastle city centre have expressed fury over 'unbelievably loud' demolition noise that is keeping them awake until 5am. The disruption stems from the demolition of Bamburgh House on Market Street, part of a larger clearance project to make way for the £155m Pilgrim's Quarter office complex, which will house thousands of civil servants by 2027.
Suzanne Hydes, who runs the Bewick Court Residents' Group and lives directly overlooking the works, said the noise from cranes pulling apart buildings and dumping debris is audible throughout the night despite wearing earplugs and industrial ear defenders. She suffers from Long Covid and says the sleep deprivation is having a seriously detrimental effect on her health. Residents also report thick dust entering their flats even with windows shut.
Overnight works currently take place Monday to Thursday and were expected to last into December, raising fears they could 'wreck' the Christmas period. Ms Hydes criticised Newcastle City Council for approving a 24-hour construction permit 'without the slightest care or consideration' to residents, and is considering legal action. Labour MP Chi Onwurah backed the residents, stating they 'should not have to endure sleepless nights'.
Project managers Avison Young said the demolition works are within correct approvals. However, the council confirmed on Wednesday that the developer will cease overnight working from Friday, November 18. A council spokesperson apologised for the disruption and assured residents they are working with the developer to mitigate the impact, noting that weekend working was already banned to provide respite.
