The Royal Mail delivery office in South Shields could be sent packing to a South Tyneside industrial estate as part of regeneration plans.
An application has been submitted to South Tyneside Council for the delivery office, in Keppel Street, South Shields, to be relocated to the site of the former adult training centre in West Walpole Street on the town’s Rekendyke Industrial Estate.
If approved, the move would safeguard 86 jobs, which would be transferred over to the new site .
However, it’s not clear if the Post Office, which is attached to the Royal Mail’s delivery office and also needs to be demolished, will also be relocated to the same spot.
A spokeswoman from the Post Office has said it is looking into clarifying the situation.
The delivery office needs to be moved because of the town’s 365 regeneration plan, which aims to build a new transport interchange on the land.
The interchange will consist of a Metro and bus station, a retail unit, a passenger drop-off area, plus a separate retail unit with office accommodation on the first and second floors..
The planning application stated: “Royal Mail seeks full planning permission to develop the cleared site for a new delivery office. This will replace the existing delivery office at Keppel Street, which will be redeveloped as part of the council’s town centre regeneration scheme.
“West Walpole Street is approximative one mile south of the existing delivery office so will continue to serve the same geographical area.
“The proposal will safeguard 86 jobs transferred to the site.”
The application by Royal Mail Group also adds how the move may well attract other investors to the industrial estate and aid employment opportunities.
It added: “The proposed development will bring Royal Mail as a flagship tenant to the estate, which will help it attract and maintain interest from other occupiers. This, in turn, will maintain the employment opportunities in the local area.”
The new development would have space for 32 vans, plus car parking spots. There would be 48 spaces for staff, five for customers and three areas for disabled drivers.
Customer access is proposed from West Walpole Street, using the existing ramp and steps
Comments can be made on the plans until August 4 by searching for application number ‘ST/0656/16/FUL’ on http://www.southtyneside.gov.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The council’s planning committee will be making a decision at a future meeting.