Homes plan looks set to be approved
Feb 5 2008 by Paul Loraine, The Journal
PLANS for a new housing development on the Northumberland coast look set to clear a final hurdle, despite local opposition.
Persimmon Homes is seeking planning permission to erect more than 40 homes at Seahouses, in Berwick borough.
Berwick Borough Council’s planning committee was in December advised to support the scheme, for land east of Broad Road, despite 67 letters of objection from 30 residents.
But members voted to defer the application to allow further discussions between the applicant and the council’s hired planners, over the shortage of affordable housing. This has resulted in an increase in number of homes proposed from 41 to 42, an additional affordable home taking the number to nine, and a different mix of housing.
A further five letters of objection have been submitted since December, but the committee is again being urged to approve tonight.
Although welcoming the improved mix of affordable housing, objector Steve Clement fears some of the homes will dominate their surroundings due to the raised ground level at the site.
The St Aidan’s resident said: “They will stick out like a sore thumb. We have got to remember this is a designated area of outstanding natural beauty.
“There are a lot of visitors who come here and walk along the seafront and it is believed that these houses will be visible from the seafront as well.” The application is for reserved matters following the granting of outline approval in February 2006 to then landowner Lord Crewe’s Charity, which later sold the agricultural site to Persimmon.
It has encountered strong opposition in the village, including North Sunderland Parish Council and Northumberland Coastal Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) officers.
Aside from the affordable housing issues, fears also centre on access, effect on wildlife, the houses being used as second or holiday homes, and the application being an overdevelopment and of too high a density.
Parish councillor Bill Weeks said last night: “I wonder whether or not the density of housing is too great for the area and I am convinced the mix is wrong.
“What we want and this is absolutely imperative is more affordable housing for young people who can work in the village and not more luxury houses that have a very good chance of ending up as second homes. And this would result in another housing estate of houses deserted for a large part of the year. We do not want that, we want affordable housing for the young people of this area.”
The report to members explains that all affordable homes will be in shared ownership with a registered social landlord. Anyone interested in buying would have to pay 50% the value and a rent proportionate to the remainder. They would have the right to buy up to 80% of the property’s value.
