Plans for apartments in Morpeth street get green light in narrow vote

Coun David Bawn, left, and Coun Richard Dodd.Coun David Bawn, left, and Coun Richard Dodd.
Coun David Bawn, left, and Coun Richard Dodd.
A proposal for new apartments in Morpeth that attracted more than 50 objections has been narrowly approved by county councillors.

Planning permission was sought by David Nicholson for the construction of a detached building at 22 Thorp Avenue to provide five residential properties – measuring 22.6 metres in width, including external balconies, by 27.3 metres in length – with parking provided at basement level below the building.

It was granted by three votes to two, with the remaining councillors present abstaining, at the meeting of the Castle Morpeth Local Area Council on Monday.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A total of 51 people and Morpeth Town Council objected, with concerns including impact on residential amenity, overdevelopment and the proposed development’s impact on the visual character of the street.

Carol Routledge, one of two Thorp Avenue residents to speak at the meeting, said: “It’s more than twice the footprint and twice the floors of the original property (which has been demolished).

“It’s just too big a mass, too dominant, intrusive and overlooking, and does not comply with many important elements of relevant local, county and national plans.”

Coun Alison Byard, representing the town council said: “This proposed development is very obviously not in keeping with the existing street scene and, in our view, constitutes overdevelopment.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mr Nicholson said that he and his wife would be living in one of the apartments.

He added: “These large apartments are of high quality and, I believe, of significant architectural merit.

“Developments like this are happening all over the country and all over Morpeth, so why should Thorp Avenue be the exception?

“Another developer may take the view that the site is big enough for 10 or possibly 12 McCarthy and Stone type apartments, but this is not what we are proposing here.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Morpeth North councillor David Bawn said his concerns were “overdevelopment and the development’s impact on visual character”.

Ponteland North councillor Richard Dodd, who proposed the planning officers’ recommendation to approve the bid, said the committee had previously opposed similar applications in the Ponteland area, but were then “creamed every time when it goes (went) to appeal”.

News you can trust since 1854
Follow us
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice