A PUB could be transformed into housing and a community centre if plans are given the go-ahead.
Durham-based charity Handcrafted is behind a proposal to give the Shakespeare Inn, in Gateshead, a new lease of life.
The charity helps people to develop skills, build confidence and “engage in positive activity” through practical training and creative activities, which it runs from 9am to 4pm on weekdays.
The organisation wants to put four one-bedroom flats on the first floor of the hostelry.
A leaflet distributed by the charity to near-by properties explained the proposals.
In it the organisation described how the premises could also be used for a community cafe which would be open to the general public.
Alongside the cafe, it said, a new training kitchen will offer cookery classes to people being trained by the charity.
Behind the cafe, Handcrafted would like to open what it describes as a “makers’ space” where it will provide the tools and knowledge to help people learn about woodworking and discover working with other materials.
The leaflet added: “These projects will be open to new referrals and be offered alongside our popular women’s craft group where we will look at soap making, resin casting, flower pressing and many other exciting crafts.”
Gateshead Council is expected to decide on the application for planning permission to carry out the work on the building in October.
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