Campaigners’ joy as green belt plan scrapped
BID TO BUILD 400 HOMES IN PONTELAND WITHDRAWN BY DEVELOPER
CAMPAIGNERS are celebrating after plans to build 400 homes in a Northumberland town were withdrawn.
Banks Property, part of the Banks Group, wanted to construct the West Clickemin Farm development on land to the south east of Ponteland town centre.
The scheme included a mix of two, three, four and five-bedroom homes on land west of the A696 and north of the B6545.
However, objectors feared the plan, which would include green belt land, would have “destroyed the character” of the town.
The scheme won approval from the council’s planning committee in March last year, but it was later “called-in” by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.
A public inquiry was due to be held on the matter early next year.
Tony Noble, of the Ponteland Green Belt Group, said: “We are delighted the plans have been withdrawn.
“We have always said we are not against developments but these homes should not be built on green belt land.
“Once green belt land has gone, it’s gone. Permission can only be given to build on such land if there are very special circumstances.
“We felt this plan did not justify building on the green belt.”
Banks Property have explained the reason for withdrawing the scheme.
Justin Hancock, principal development planner, said: “The West Clickemin Farm site has long been recognised as appropriate for development of the type we are proposing, and our proposals for it were carefully developed over many years to allow for a great deal of information about the site and the wider local area to be factored into them.
“They received a recommendation for approval from Northumberland County Council’s planning officers, as well as the support of the highly-experienced members of the council’s strategic planning committee, and were specifically designed to address the clear and pressing need right across North East England to increase the available supply of quality homes.
“Throughout this process, we worked closely with the council’s planning officers on all aspects of the project, and especially on securing a significant contribution that the scheme would make towards enhancing the educational facilities available to families in and around Ponteland.
“The council’s newly-reached opinion that no private sector funding is required has undermined the current case for development at West Clickemin Farm.
“But we still feel development at West Clickemin Farm is the most logical and sustainable site for development in Ponteland.
“The public inquiry predicated by the political decision by the Secretary of State to call in the local planning ruling would place considerable extra demands on the public purse, while the county council’s newly-reached viewpoint that it no longer needs this funding will only further significantly increase these demands.
“It is highly regrettable that, after so many years’ work, we therefore find ourselves having to withdraw these carefully-planned and sensible-sited proposals.”