Demolition work is underway at the former Queen Alexandra College site in North Shields to prepare the ground for a new residential development. National housing specialist Lovell acquired the four-acre site on Queen Alexandra Road in March, following the grant of planning permission by North Tyneside Council for 47 new dwellings.

As part of the project, Lovell has finalised a planning agreement to provide over £625,000 in funding for local infrastructure and services. This includes £443,000 for sports facilities, as well as significant contributions toward children's play areas, green spaces, coastal and biodiversity mitigation, and allotments. Additionally, roughly £85,000 will be allocated toward affordable housing within the borough.

The site, which was previously part of the TyneMet College Queen Alexandra Campus, has been empty since 2024. The demolition focuses on modern 20th-century structures, while the original Grade II listed Edwardian college building is to be preserved and converted by a separate developer.

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Phil Jones, Lovell Director of Land and Partnerships in the North East, said: "This is an opportunity for Lovell to transform a brownfield site within an existing residential area into a desirable neighbourhood in easy reach of amenities, where people will enjoy living.

"The homes we have planned will enhance the setting of the listed former college building, which is to be retained on the site and restored.

"There is pent-up local demand for quality housing in this community. In the coming years more homes will be required. This new development will make an important contribution to the local housing supply and help to meet that need in a sustainable way."

The new neighbourhood will offer a variety of three and four-bedroom detached, semi-detached, and terraced homes. Each property will feature electric vehicle charging points and will be constructed using a 'fabric first' approach to ensure high thermal performance and sustainability.

The project also includes a community plan designed to support the local economy through apprenticeships, work placements, and the use of local supply chains. Construction on the new homes is expected to begin this summer, with the first completions anticipated by November 2026.