Newcastle-upon-Tyne planners have backed a controversial development on the city’s last greenfield site. The committee said they were ‘minded to grant consent’ for Bryant Homes and Leech Homes’ £100m housing scheme on a site formerly known as the Northern Development Area but now renamed Newcastle Great Park.
An existing article 14 directive ensures the application will be sent to the government office for the north east, from which the DETR will decide whether to call the scheme in.
Local agent Nick Blezard of Storey Sons & Parker said: “The developers don’t want a public inquiry because they want to be on site by February 2000. If an inquiry goes ahead it could halt development until 2001.” He also claimed “there’s no fundamental difference” between the revised application and the original.
But Peter Jordan, development manager at Leech Homes, said: “We can’t think of another thing we can do to improve this scheme – it’s totally government-compliant.”
A year ago, councillors backed the original plan for 2,500 homes and an 81ha (200 acre) business park. However John Prescott called the scheme in February and the developer withdrew the bid just before the hearing.
Local opposition to the scheme is rife. The Council for the Protection of Rural England says it would bring “gridlock closer for Newcastle”.
Jordan countered, saying the CPRE “ignored the common facts” and had a “bee in its bonnet”. He confirmed that brownfield development would also take place.
The council hopes the development will help stem Newcastle’s population loss by providing around 8,000 new jobs.
EGi 01/12/99
