Transformation of Berwick building wins award

The former Youngmans building on Hide Hill, Berwick.

Park Portfolio, which has carried out the redevelopment at 55 Hide Hill, has been announced as the winner of Berwick-upon-Tweed Civic Society’s 2016 plaque.

The plaque is awarded to a building or development, in the town, which the members deem to be worthy of special commendation.

Progress on the Hide Hill Youngmans development

There were five excellent nominations; The Bankhill Development, 34/36 Ravensdowne (formerly the Ravensholme Hotel, 55 Hide Hill (formerly Youngmans corner), the restoration work on the Anchorage, 35 Woolmarket and 19-21 Hide Hill (Caesar’s Palace Redevelopment).

All five received a good number of votes, and much praise, but the overall winner is 55 Hide Hill (Park Portfolio).

A presentation ceremony will hopefully take place in March.

Park Portfolio has turned the dilapidated former hardware store into what will eventually be a ground floor restaurant and four flats on the upper floors.

Scaffolding up as work gets underway at the Youngmans building, Hide Hill.

The Nottingham-based developer withdrew the property from sale in 2015 to pursue its own scheme, scuppering the hopes of Berwick Community Trust which had drawn up strikingly similar plans.

The former hardware store has been vacant since 2001.

Park Portfolio received planning permission to demolish and redevelop the property to create a restaurant and 20 flats in 2008 but the scheme was overtaken by the recession.

Previous winners of the Berwick Civic Society plaque have included the Tweedmouth Watchtower, Granary Gallery, Short’s Mill and Bridge End. The Tweedmouth public housing refurbishment, Spittal promenade improvements, the conversion of Freeman’s Court and the refurbishment of Tower Pottery.