Plans for new shops and flats approved as Northumberland councillors go against advice

The application for a mixed-use development, including the part-demolition of the building at the rear of 26-28 Newgate Street, facing Lumsden’s Lane, was recommended for refusal when it went before the Tuesday, July 21, meeting of Northumberland County Council’s strategic planning committee.

However, a minded to approve resolution was granted through the chairman’s casting vote, after members were split six for and six against, with two abstentions.

The existing two-storey building will be replaced with a three-storey structure containing two ground-floor retail units and three flats – a first-floor, single-storey apartment, a second-floor, single-storey apartment and a duplex apartment over the top two floors.

The planning officer’s report had accepted that the proposals, which include work to the adjacent T&G Allan alleyway, would ‘promote the vitality and viability of Morpeth town centre’ and ‘seek to improve the shopping experience and pedestrian access via the existing walkway’.

However, it was considered that these positives did not outweigh the ‘identified harm’ to the town’s conservation area.

‘An amended scheme could be introduced that provides economic and public benefits while also respecting the built environment and residential amenity,’ the conclusion added. ‘At present, it has not been demonstrated that the (proposal) is the only economically viable approach.’

An added complication is that the neighbouring building has an extant planning permission for a two-storey extension, which would result in the latest bid’s first-storey windows ‘looking onto a plain brick wall in very close proximity’.

But a written submission from the applicant, David Chambers, said that councillors will have seen ‘how dark and uninviting’ the alleyway is and that the scale and massing of the proposal is as small as it can be while ensuring the scheme is economically viable.

He added that the design is ‘typical Northumberland vernacular, sitting well within its surroundings’.

Cllr Trevor Thorne, who moved approval, said: “As far as the retail offer goes, Morpeth is definitely the jewel in the crown. I feel this would be another little add-on to that offer, but I do take on board the concerns.”

Cllr Jeff Reid did not agree, saying: “I think we need to stick with the recommendation in the report, there are too many things to argue about; it’s too big, the windows are in the wrong place and there’s going to be at least four or five more cars.”

But Cllr Richard Dodd said: “We don’t know the extent of the downturn, if there is one, and we have someone here ready to make an investment.

“I’m backing this one because we are going through some form of war and we need some investment.”

Cllr Barry Flux added: “If we don’t reform our high streets, we are just going to have the same problems.”

However, Cllrs Allan Hepple, Les Bowman and Ian Swithenbank all raised concerns, including the windows, the massing and over-development.

The approval is subject to suitable conditions being drawn up and issues related to the extant permission for the neighbouring property being resolved, so the application may need to come back before the committee.

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