Part of shopping centre to be demolished
LDRSPart of a town's shopping centre is to be demolished, with work expected to start in summer.
South Tyneside Council has approved plans for a series of retail units at the Viking Centre in Jarrow to be knocked down, including the former Wilko building.
Applicant Sheet Anchor Investments Limited said the retail units were "largely vacant".
Demolition is likely to begin in July and is predicted to be finished by 1 December.
A number of units adjacent to the former Wilko store proposed for demolition have most recently been occupied by charity shops, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.
The documents said the Jarrow Buffs Social Club on Ellison Street was not part of the demolition plans.
LDRSDetails of the demolition noted the buildings would be "demolished to slab level" with "dust suppression" measures put in place.
The authority said its countryside team concluded the application site would have a low risk for the presence of protected species, such as bats and birds.
It was also noted that the buildings were "not listed, not located within a conservation area and do not fall within a locally designated area or protected landscape".