Fresh housing plans submitted for site in Amble

Mrs T Ireland wants to build six four-bedroom detached houses on the hillside to the north of Gloster Hill, which actually falls into the parish of Warkworth.

The site will be accessed from an improved existing entrance on the southern boundary, with each property having four parking spaces – two on a driveway and two in the garage, alongside four visitor bays for the development.

A planning statement with the bid notes that the site is outside the settlement boundary for Amble, but adds: ‘Given that the LPA (local planning authority) has already granted permission for a scheme of six units, on the same site, the settlement boundary in the emerging Northumberland Local Plan has been adjusted to include the site.’

The previous outline application was given the go-ahead by Northumberland County Council’s then planning and performance committee in February 2016.

It was supported by a majority of members, but three councillors voted against the scheme based on the main concerns raised by objectors – flooding, sewerage and the stability of the hillside.

Coun Jeff Watson, ward member for Amble West with Warkworth, spoke against the plans at that meeting, saying: “This will flood, we know it does, we know there will be problems with the drains and it will affect the stability of the bank.”

On the stability issue, planning officers explained that, under national guidance, it is the responsibility of the developer to cope with that, while it was their opinion that the site could accommodate six properties in the part of the site outside what’s defined as the medium-risk flood zone by the Environment Agency.

For the latest application, the Environment Agency and Northumbrian Water are both satisfied, subject to conditions, but the council’s flood experts have objected.

However, it appears that these concerns could be overcome through more information being provided on how the risks will be mitigated.T here have been seven objections from neighbours so far as well.