North Tyneside Council may consider compulsory purchase of burnt-out Shiremoor ex-care home
Two years on from a devastating blaze which destroyed a Shiremoor care home, North Tyneside Council is moving closer to acquiring it.
In June 2024, the former Stanton Lodge care home, at Milfield Avenue, was burnt out following a suspected arson attack.
The inferno required the evacuation of nearby homes, and calls for its demolition have persisted ever since.
Now, the local authority is in “positive” talks to obtain the site so it can finally be cleared and repurposed.
Following a public question about the status of the site in the most recent North Tyneside full council meeting, deputy mayor Carl Johnson said: “The site is not owned by the council and it is not responsible for its current condition. The company that owned the building has gone into receivership. The council has had positive dialogue with the official receiver to acquire the site.
“If this cannot be achieved through dialogue, then the council will consider using its compulsory purchase powers. As a result of these ongoing legal and ownership issues, the council is not currently able to provide a date for when clearance of the site will commence.
“However, resolving the constraints affecting the site and securing its future redevelopment remains a priority, and officers will continue to progress matters at the earliest opportunity.”
After the initial blaze was reported, several individuals aged between 12-20 were arrested by Northumbria Police. However, none faced further police action.