Councillors block estate access road
Aaccess road for a new housing estate has been knocked back by councillors.
Barratt Homes applied for permission to link its new housing development in Cramlington with nearby Langdale Drive for two years, but members of the Cramlington, Bedlington and Seaton Valley Local Area committee refused the builder’s request.
Overall, the housing site will consist of 715 new homes, accessed via a new road off Beacon Lane. The development is split into several sites, each constructed by a different developer.
Because Barratt Homes is building quicker than neighbouring Keepmoat, 90 homes will be completed before the access can be used, so Barratt applied for permission to link the development to Langdale Drive.
Barratt’s planning manager Amy Ward told the planning meeting: “We can’t take residents through the Keepmoat site due to safety concerns. The Langdale Drive route is for residents only. Pedestrian safety is of paramount importance to us.”
However, Cramlington West Coun Barry Flux – who lives on Langdale Drive – called on his colleagues to refuse the application, saying: “I’m very disappointed that it is here. In my mind, the highways impacts are large enough for this to be refused.”
The application was recommended for approval by council planners. But members of the Local Area committee felt that the applicant had not sufficiently demonstrated how it would keep walkers and cyclists safe.
The proposed route would cross Linslade Walk and Coun Wayne Daley said: “I can’t go to the public and say I’m going to support something, but I don’t know if it is going to be safe or if it is going to work. That is unacceptable to me.
“It would be putting the people going to buy houses ahead of those in the community. I’m extremely uncomfortable about this.”
Councillors voted to reject the plans by four votes to two. Coun Flux did not take part in the vote.
Speaking after the meeting, he said: “The committee have made the right decision for the residents of Beaconhill and I am glad they listened to that large level of concerns that local residents have.
“The proposed road crossing over a cycle path and close to a school with views obscured would be an accident waiting to happen.”
The application was previously deferred by the committee after members felt they could not find a valid planning reason to refuse it, but a site visit prior to the meeting left them uncomfortable with the safety arrangements.