Green light for new homes

The plan – for four properties and an outline scheme for up to 20 houses, three or four of which would be affordable – is earmarked for land east of Lambton Avenue and Kyloe View.

The application was recommended for approval, despite objections from the parish council and eight residents. There were, however, six letters of support for the scheme.

At last Thursday’s North Northumberland Local Area Council meeting, objectors said that the plan would set an ‘extremely harmful precedent which would cause irreversible harm’ and would ‘detrimentally impact the area’.

However, the applicant, Conor Colgan, of Lowick Hall Farm, addressed the committee by saying that he was investing in the community.

He added: “We want the village to have vitality and we want the village to have life and we have worked to address the concerns of the community.”

Coun Robbie Moore said that he didn’t have any difficulty with the application, while Coun Gordon Castle said that the scheme would assist the village in it’s aim of long-term sustainability.

He added: “I don’t think this is an excessive scheme and I am sure it will benefit the village overall.”

Coun Guy Renner-Thompson said: “It is a cart and horse situation. I do wonder who would buy these houses, because I don’t think the village needs more houses and Lowick is not yet a holiday destination. At the same time, I can’t see a reason to refuse it. If they build them, then build it and let them come. On balance, I am in favour.”

Coun Wendy Pattison said it was a tricky decision and she was in two minds, as she could understand both view points.

Eight members voted in favour, with two abstentions.