STACK Leisure scraps plans for two new venues

Plans for two major leisure venues have been scrapped, years after work started on them.

STACK Leisure has shelved the plans for food, drink and entertainment venues in Whitley Bay and Durham.

The company blamed the "difficult" decision on unforeseen development costs, slow planning and legal processes, infrastructure demands and wider pressures on the hospitality and leisure industries.

Labour MP Mary Kelly Foy said the decision showed a "total disregard for the people in Durham".

CEO Neill Winch said: "We recognise that there will be a huge amount of disappointment about these decisions."

He said the projects had been a long-term commitment and the decision to shelve them "were not taken lightly".

"Rather than continuing to delay progress on these sites, we believe it is the best interests of both Durham and Whitley Bay to step aside and allow alternative providers to come forward," he said.

STACK had originally aimed to deliver three to four new venues a year, but Winch said two was a more realistic target given the challenges of large-scale regeneration and hospitality projects.

The first temporary STACK hub opened in Newcastle in 2018 on land left vacant after the Odeon Cinema on Pilgrim Street was demolished.

Other sites include St James' Park, Middlesbrough, Seaburn and Lincoln. A central Newcastle venue opened in the former Worswick Chambers last year.

In Whitley Bay, STACK planned to transform the historic Empress Ballroom near Spanish City, which had been vacant since 2018.

The project was delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic and although planning permission for a roof terrace was granted in 2023, work ground to a halt.

In June, eight councillors from North Tyneside signed a cross-party letter calling on STACK to provide an update.

The council's director of economy Peter Mennell said discussions were now under way about the long-term future of the site, which was privately owned.

"As a prominent listed building in one of our key visitor destinations, we're keen to support efforts to bring it back into use," he said.

In Durham, little progress had been made on plans to redevelop the former Marks and Spencer store on Silver Street since they were approved in April 2023.

Winch said the company did not want to hold back regeneration and investment by allowing projects to drift further down its development timeline.

MP for City of Durham Foy told the BBC she would work with the local council and other organisations to attract the "right" establishment for the site.

She said: "I objected to STACK in the first place as it was totally inappropriate establishment in terms of the heritage and character of Silver Street.

"What is a shame is the fact that they got planning permission over three years ago and it's an absolute eyesore.

"People are wondering 'what is going on, what is happening here?'

"So for them to pull out is shocking, it is total disregard for the people in Durham."

Manager at Durham BID Paul Howard said the uncertainty surrounding the site had been frustrating for businesses and residents.

"What we need now is a clear and realistic plan for the site, backed by an investor with the resources and commitment to deliver it without further delay," he said.

Winch said STACK continued to perform strongly across its existing venues and remained committed to expansion.

STACK Wigan is due to open soon, while schemes in Bishop Auckland, Northampton, Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield are at various stages of development.

Winch said the decision was about prioritising projects that could be delivered most effectively, rather than reflecting on the business's performance or the viability of the locations.

He added that the decision did not rule out future schemes in Whitley Bay or Durham.

"We would never rule out returning to a location in the future if the right opportunity arose," he said.

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