Decision due on scores of homes in Northumberland village

An outline scheme for up to 233 houses on land west of Milkwell Lane in Corbridge was given the go-ahead in September 2016.

Now, the reserved matters application for 181 homes, to deal with the layout, scale, appearance and landscaping, will be decided at Tuesday’s (August 7) meeting of Northumberland County Council’s strategic planning committee.

The proposals have sparked 18 objections, including from the nearby middle school and Corbridge Village Trust, while the parish council has not formally objected but has raised a number of concerns.

There are joint applicants for the bid, with Bellway proposing 58 homes on the northern part of the site, north of the main estate road, and Miller Homes proposing 123 properties on the rest.

There would be a range of house types, including 27 affordable homes, broken down as follows:

Miller – seven two-bedroom semi-detached (affordable); four three-bed semi-detached (affordable); six two-bed semi-detached bungalows (affordable); eight three-bed terraced; 10 three-bed detached; 57 four-bed detached; 31 five-bed detached.

Bellway – six two-bed semi/terrace (affordable); four three-bed semi/terrace (affordable); seven three-bed semi; five three-bed semi/detached; four three-bed detached bungalows; 32 four-bed detached.

The planning officer’s report concludes: ‘The proposal would result in a modern housing development to the edge of the settlement in an area that is characterised by more modern housing in the vicinity to the south and west.

‘There would clearly be a change to the character and appearance of the area and amenity of surrounding residents, and officers have carefully considered

these aspects.’

It adds that ‘the submitted plans are considered to result in an acceptable form of development in this location’.

However, if the committee members were to approve the scheme, it would be subject to to the expiry of the further re-consultation with neighbours on the layout, which was revised recently following discussions with the planners.

There is also an outstanding highways safety matter to address, according to the report, but it is anticipated that this can be resolved and an update will be provided at the meeting.

It relates to a proposed car-parking and bus drop-off area to serve the adjacent middle school.

A bid to extend a north Northumberland holiday park will also be discussed at tomorrow's planning committee meeting.Ben O'Connell, Local Democracy Reporting Service