HOUSING issues in one of the region’s most sought-after towns look set to be examined at a public inquiry after controversial plans to build 200 new homes there were thrown out by councillors.

Campaigners were delighted following the rejection of the bid by Bellway Homes for a major new residential estate at Loansdean, on the southern edge of Morpeth, Northumberland.

Around 150 local residents who attended a planning meeting in Alnwick’s Northumberland Hall burst into a round of applause after the committee voted 6-2 – against their officers’ recommendation – to refuse the company’s application.

Bellway Homes says it will appeal against the decision, meaning a public inquiry will be conducted by a Government planning inspector before a final decision is made.

The Loansdean scheme – which includes 200 houses and bungalows together with an associated shopping and commercial development – sparked more than 200 letters of objection and a 468-name protest petition.

Opponents claim it is in the wrong location, as plans to build a northern bypass for Morpeth mean that future housing development should be concentrated on that side of the town.

They also say the Bellway scheme will prejudice the development of a comprehensive planning blueprint for the town, and involves “unnecessary” building on green fields outside the settlement boundary when more suitable sites can be found closer to the town centre.

Councillors voiced concerns that the promised scale of affordable housing might not be delivered because of the continuing economic recession – despite Bellway signing a legal agreement to deliver the first 20 units.

Local county councillor, Andrew Tebbutt, said he was delighted by the decision – branding the Bellway scheme as “opportunistic, inappropriate and ill-advised”.

“Local residents have fought against the development of this site for decades. It would cause environmental damage and could open the floodgates for further applications outside the settlement boundary, which would be hard to resist.”

David Holden, part of the South Morpeth Coalition set up to fight the plan, said the town did need more affordable housing, but on previously developed brown field sites to the north of the settlement.

Bellway Homes corporate affairs manager, Julian Kenyon, said: “We are disappointed by the committee’s decision. In light of the planning officers’ support for the development, we will be appealing the decision.”

It would cause environmental damage and open the floodgates for further applications