North Tyneside Council has moved a step closer to buying three derelict sites after cabinet members agreed to start the compulsory purchase process. The sites include the former Stanton Lodge care home in Shiremoor, the closed Seaton Court Care home in Whitley Bay, and the fire-damaged former New Store on Nile Street in North Shields.
Council calls move a 'last resort'
Councillors said the compulsory purchase order was the local authority's last resort, and officers would continue to work with the current owners to find an alternative way forward. Members heard that all three sites, which have been empty for some time, have attracted anti-social behaviour.
Cabinet member for housing Coun John Harrison said: "This starts a practical and appropriate way to deal with three longstanding empty sites. These sites have been empty for years, they attract anti-social behaviour, raise safety concerns and have a real impact on people living nearby."
Negotiations to continue with owners
Harrison added: "Residents say they want to see action, and this explains how we will take this forward. This supports our ambitions to create places we can be proud of, and improve housing and neighbourhoods across North Tyneside."
"We are not being asked to approve a purchase - if the powers are needed, this will come back to cabinet. We will keep negotiating to buy the sites with agreement, which is always our preferred approach - but we will do the early work should the compulsory purchase be needed in the future."
Funding and legal issues
In January, the council received external funding from Homes England and the North East Strategic Mayoral Authority to strengthen its approach to using compulsory purchase powers in relation to "problematic" properties. Several priority sites were identified where "prolonged vacancy, poor property conditions, fragmented ownership arrangements and other site-specific constraints have impeded redevelopment".
Deputy mayor Coun Carl Johnson said: "Land and building owners that have derelict sites need to get a grip and work with the council. We have tried repeatedly to work with them."
"This is us signally our intent that if you continue to dig your heels in, we will take the necessary action to ensure we ensure the quality of life for our residents. This is just the start - we can all think of an example and there will be more properties we take action on right across the borough."
The Stanton Lodge home was levelled by a blaze in June 2024, while The New Store on Nile Street in North Shields also sustained major fire damage in November of the same year. The collection of former houses that previously operated as a care home, known as Seaton Court on South Parade, has been tied up in legal issues due to "unresolved ownership issues", according to council documents.
