A crumbling 19th century railway station described as one of Tyneside's most imperilled heritage buildings has won vital support after English Heritage offered a second £500,000 grant towards the bid to save it.
Tynemouth Metro Station needs to match a £2 million pledge from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport's Sea Change scheme by raising the same amount in funding for the Grade II-listed 1882 site.
Owners Station Development Limited and North Tyneside Council have been chasing investment for urgent repair work on the Station's ornate ironwork canopies, which have been on the Heritage at Risk register since 1998.
Carol Pyrah, English Heritage's Director of Planning and Development for the North-East, said the announcement was "testament to the significance of the building and the urgency of repairs needed."
"After many years of uncertainty there is now a real opportunity to secure the future of the station, which currently features in the highest priority category on English Heritage's Heritage at Risk register because of the very poor state of its rusted canopies," she declared.
"It is crucial that repairs are undertaken without delay to stave off further decay and potential collapse and we are hopeful that, with our latest award, the remaining match-funding can be found."
Station chiefs need to match a £2 million funding pledge from the DCMS
Morris Muter, Chief Executive of Station Developments Limited, praised Pyrah's team for their role in the restoration plans.
"This latest grant offer is most welcome and will be instrumental in filling a funding gap," he admitted.
"I look forward to working with them and the other members of the project team in order to complete the restoration and conservation."
Arts and culture programmes, a library and heritage centre and improved facilities are planned for the historic site. Contract negotiations are continuing, with work expected to begin in 2011.
