Plans to create ‘much needed’ affordable homes on Green Belt land in a Northumberland town have been given the green light as very special circumstances were evidenced.
The move, which sees development on Green Belt land on land north of the Red Lion House on Corbridge Road near Hexham, follows detailed assessment of various local sites and extensive pre-planning work by North East planning experts Hedley Planning.
Approval of the application paves the way for the construction of a mix of 21 new two, three and four-bedrooms properties by social housing provider Castles & Coasts Housing Association.
These will be available to homeowners through a mix of tenures including Affordable Rent, Shared Ownership and Rent to Buy.
Featuring EV charge points, each property will be highly insulated and feature roof mounted solar PV panels to provide homeowners with lower long term household running costs. Plans will also see new landscaping and tree planting, and a proposed pedestrian link to the north of the site.
The scheme is seen as a much-needed boost for local housing stock and comes as the Government continues to push for the delivery of new homes to meet the chronic property shortage in the North of England.
It also offers greater choice to affordable homeowners, said our associate director, Alex Franklin, associate director, who has secured approval from Northumberland County Council planning committee following extensive collaboration with local stakeholders, partners, and communities.
He confirms the pressing need for residential development to meet chronic housing shortages, adding that new homes will pump additional revenue into the local economy.
“This much needed development will ensure the delivery of affordable housing in a positive way that is appropriate to the site,” Alex Franklin said. New homes on Green Belt land is always a challenge, so this is a significant achievement. Plans have reflected feedback from those in need of affordable housing, and we now look forward to moving to the next phase and the start of onsite work.”
