WORK has started to prepare two derelict sites near Whitley Bay seafront for the construction of new homes.
The former Avenue Hotel site, on the corner of Park Avenue and Brook Street, is set to be revitalised as part of North Tyneside Council’s ambitious £36m regeneration scheme for the coast.
It will see 12 new executive homes built adjacent to the iconic Spanish City Dome, which is being renovated and turned into a major leisure attraction in a multi-million pound scheme.
Site preparations are now underway ahead of the main construction phase which is expected to start at the end of March 2018.
Aarsleff Ground Engineering, working on behalf of Kier North Tyneside in partnership with North Tyneside Council, is carrying out work to stabilise shallow coal seams beneath the site by drilling and injecting around 300 tonnes of concrete.
Nearby, work is also continuing to demolish the Whiskey Bends pub, which will see another eyesore cleared from the seafront. The work to demolish the existing building is expected to conclude at the end of March 2018.
North Tyneside’s Elected Mayor, Norma Redfearn CBE, said: “I’m delighted to see the early signs of progress at the Avenue site and at Whiskey Bends, which I know local people have been desperate to see.
"These sites will be revived with high quality homes that will give the whole area a lift, deliver a huge boost for local businesses, and play an important role in shaping the overall vision for Whitley Bay.”