More new housing planned for Amble

There seems to be no end in sight for the expansion of one Northumberland coastal town with a bid for almost 200 new homes being lodged.
The site of the proposed development.The site of the proposed development.
The site of the proposed development.

An outline application for 185 properties in Amble has been submitted to Northumberland County Council.

First unveiled to residents in March, this major development follows a flurry of planning approvals in the town at the end of last year with almost 1,000 homes signed off in three months.

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Earmarked for land west of Gloster Meadows, the plans have been submitted by George F White, on behalf of Persona, the open-market sale brand of North East-based Home Group.

The proposed scheme, which will require a new access off Acklington Road, will feature a mix of house types and sizes with the details to be subject to another application.

While details are to be firmed up, it is anticipated there will be 28 affordable homes – a mix of single and two-storey, one, two and three-bedroom homes for rent and for sale.

A planning statement concludes: ‘The site offers the opportunity for the planned and sustainable growth of Amble delivered by an experienced developer providing both market and affordable homes.

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‘The site is in a sustainable location and benefits from a good range of services and facilities which can be accessed by means other than private car.’

In November last year, members of Northumberland County Council’s strategic planning committee granted unanimous permission to an outline bid for up to 166 homes west of the A1068, to be known as Hauxley View.

It followed the committee giving approval to an outline application, by Hindmarsh Homes, for up to 500 homes on land to the south and south-east of James Calvert Spence College, off Acklington Road, in September.

Then, in October, Cheviot Holdings, which is also behind the Hauxley View scheme, was given the green light unanimously for its proposals, also in outline, for up to 272 homes on land north-east of Amble Sewage Treatment Works, off Percy Drive.

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On all three, one of the key talking points was infrastructure and, in an attempt to address the pressures, the schemes are subject to financial contributions for the likes of sport and leisure, education, GP facilities and ecological mitigation.

The planning statement for the new proposals says: ‘Concerns have been raised by the town council and through public consultation regarding the capacity of education and healthcare provision within the local area.

‘Further discussions with the council will be undertaken to establish if provision should be made within the section 106 agreement for contributions towards education and healthcare provision, where this can be evidenced and justified.’

Earlier this month, plans were unveiled for a new supermarket and up to 35,000 sq ft of additional retail units on the town’s Coquet Enterprise Park.

Ben O'Connell, Local Democracy Reporting Service