A room with a view ... take 2; Artist's hotel could be built on monument.

Byline: David Whetstone Arts & Entertainment Editor

ASECOND attempt is being made to get the controversial Hotel Monument project off the ground.

Eyebrows were raised last year when Japanese artist Tatzu Nishi's plan to turn Grey's Monument, Newcastle, into a temporary hotel were unveiled.

It was to have just one room - right at the top, 150ft up - and guests could book for a night. The room would offer five star accommodation and boast a seagull's eye view across the rooftops of Tyneside.

Guests would also have, for company, the 13ft high statue of Earl Grey in Portland stone.

Plans were shelved because of a delay in sub-contractors obtaining the necessary insurance for the project. It became clear Hotel Monument would not be ready in time to benefit from summer weather and tourists.

But another planning application is to be submitted to Newcastle City Council on Monday and this time council officers are helping to manage the project.

While this is no guarantee that it will get the thumbs-up from elected members, the support has been welcomed by destination marketing agency NewcastleGateshead Initiative (NGI).

Hotel Monument was introduced by NGI last year as a highlight of its culture10 programme of world-class festivals and events.

Stella Hall, creative director of culture10, said all the partners involved in Hotel Monument remained committed to the project and the year's delay meant it could now be open for an extended period of six weeks, allowing more people to experience it.

She said: "I think it shows great vision and confidence from the City of Newcastle in continuing to support an event of this scale and ambition.

"In a year when we are focusing on landscape and heritage, it's bringing a regional icon into contemporary focus and educational, cultural and economic benefits will accrue from it."

She said it was important, even during a downturn, for NewcastleGateshead to continue to make a positive impact and to attract visitors.

The total cost of the project is estimated at pounds 500,000 with contributions from NGI, Arts Council England, North East, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Northern Rock Foundation, One North-East and the Henry Moore Foundation.

But almost a third of this sum was spent last year on Hotel Monument's steel scaffolding structure, which would be used to support the room.

NGI estimate the direct economic benefit to the area will be more than pounds 1m, with more than pounds 2m generated by widespread media coverage.

The Hotel Monument project was initiated by Newcastle arts organisation Locus+ which has worked with many leading artists from around the world.

Jon Bewley, founding director of Locus+, was delighted yesterday that Hotel Monument has been given another chance. "We always felt it was purely a postponement and were confident that all issues could be resolved, which they have been," he said.

We were always ... confident that all issues could be resolved, which they have been

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BEST ROOM IN THE HOUSE But will the plan for a hotel room wrapped round Grey's Monument in Newcastle become a reality this time?