Rothbury housing plan gets the green light despite concerns
A proposed housing development in Rothbury has been given outline planning permission.
An application for up to three homes on land south-west of Knocklaw Park has been approved by Northumberland County Council.
Two objections were submitted by neighbours about overlooking and the ecological value of the site.
Rothbury Parish Council also pointed out that there is no safe way to travel on foot from the development site to the town centre.
Planning officer Jack Freeman, delegating approval, states: “Two site visits have been carried out and it is considered that the site could accommodate three residential dwellings.
"The site is bordered by three residential dwellings and the topography of the site raises challenges in relation to preserving residential amenity of these existing properties. This is particularly true in the case of Plot 3, which in the indicative plans would occupy an elevated position overlooking Knocklaw Cottage and its curtilage.
“Whether a two-storey dwelling could be built on this plot whilst preserving the amenity of the neighbouring property will need to be robustly demonstrated as part of a future reserved matters application.”
The highways department noted that the site lacks pedestrian footpaths but pointed out it would share the same access arrangements as the existing seven residential dwelllings of Knocklaw Park which were deemed previously to be acceptable.
"The proposal represents an appropriate form of development within the boundary of an established settlement,” Mr Freeman adds.
Details of the layout, scale, appearance of the buildings, landscaping of the site will need to be finalised through a subsequent reserved matters application.