Plans for new homes in three developments in Northumberland villages

In Christon Bank, outline permission is being sought for up to eight houses on land south of The Steadings, Redstead Cottages, to be accessed from the B1340.

Each property would have garden/amenity areas, car and cycle parking and it is also proposed to provide a playing field/recreation area to the south of the site, which the applicant, Mr R Jeffrey, would gift to the parish council.

The plot was subject to a pre-application inquiry in 2016, but the scheme has been halved from the 16 dwellings proposed at that point.

A planning statement concludes that the ‘proposed development is in a suitable location for new housing delivery, that would add to the existing housing mix and is well related to development in the locality’ and is ‘not considered to result in any significant or unacceptable impacts on the immediate locality, wider environment or amenity of adjoining residents and land uses’.

Meanwhile, in Ellingham, an outline application has been submitted for three new detached homes on land west of Home Farm.

The parish council has not objected, but called for conditions including the retention of mature hedgerows and a walnut tree which is subject to a Tree Preservation Order.

A planning statement states that ‘an illustrative site plan demonstrates that an acceptable form of development with access could be delivered’ and ‘can be accommodated on site without having an adverse impact on trees covered by Tree Preservation Orders’.

Elsewhere in the village, a bid has been lodged for a new four-bedroom cottage to the west of The Byre, using the same building line as The Bothy and the other new houses along the lane.

The application explains that the proposal reduces the footprint of new buildings from the 2016 application – an approval was for two one-and-a-half-storey, three-bedroom dwellings – and retains the garden to The Bothy.

However, the parish council has objected, citing concerns including the land being contaminated by ‘considerable burning of unknown materials over several years’ and Japanese knotweed.

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