Builder scraps house proposals ahead of debate

EFFORTS to redevelop the site of a demolished Newcastle school have hit a late snag.

Plans to build 39 new houses at the old Grange Road School in Fenham were expected to win the approval of councillors last week.

However, property developer Bellway Homes withdrew its proposals just one day before they were due up for debate at Newcastle City Council’s planning committee.

The authority says that Bellway needs further time to investigate a “number of development issues” on the site.

A Newcastle City Council spokesman said: “The developer, Bellway, wishes to further investigate a number of development issues relating to the site as part of their intended scheme.

“While detailed negotiations are ongoing between the council and the developer, Bellway elected to withdraw its planning application to allow for sufficient time for this, after which Bellway expects to resubmit its application.”

Nearby neighbours had raised objections to the plans, which they fear will cause heavy congestion in the residential area.

A petition signed by 32 people opposing the scheme has been submitted to the council, complaining that the proposed entrance to the site from Grange Road is inadequate and that there will be safety issues because the route is popular with schoolchildren.

Bellway had said that developing the site, which has been vacant since the school was torn down between 2009 and 2012, will create more than 100 jobs and generate £195,000 per year for the local economy.

Its planning application said the economic benefits included “New Home Bonus payments; more than 100 direct, indirect and induced jobs; around £380,000 of increased spending power annually; and increased council tax revenue for Newcastle City Council”. It added: that the development would “positively contribute towards the area’s affordable and housing market needs”.

The proposed development would have consisted of 30 four-bedroom houses and nine five-bedroom houses.

The designs had already been redrawn once to remove a single home from the proposals, and it is not currently known what further amendments Bellway might make before resubmitting the plans following negotiations with the council.