Councillors have unanimously approved the construction of 115 new homes in Wallsend despite police concerns.
The approved houses will form phase two of an ongoing project on land west of the A186 and south of the A191. The project aims to deliver a total of 418 residential dwellings to Wallsend. Persimmons Home North East were originally given permission to develop the site back in 2018.
Northumbria Police raised concerns over the layout of car parking in the designs of the site, as the proposed walls and fencing would render residents' cars out of sight and vulnerable to theft.
Read More: Buyers snap up 90% of properties at Newcastle housing development and here's why
Councillors on Tuesday morning's planning committee were reassured on this issue by planning officer Aidan Dobinson Booth, who said that although parked vehicles were obscured from one angle by the proposed wall and fencing, they were capable of being seen from other dwellings within the plot.
Police also raised concerns about a footpath proposed in the phase two development. In a letter from Northumbria Police to the council, police claimed the footpath would create a “leaky cul-de-sac” which, according to the police, can experience higher levels of crime than standard cul-de-sacs.
However, once again, Mr Dobinson Booth reassured councillors the footpath was necessary in terms of supporting sustainable transport and lessening the need for people to travel in cars.
Whitley Bay councillor John O'Shea queried whether council officers felt there was enough housing provision for elderly residents in the borough as the site had no proposed bungalows. Coun O'Shea was told by the council officers present that the site had a sufficient range of house sizes.
Battle Hill councillor Julie Crudas said: “I will just say I will be supporting this application, although I do really have empathy with the police comments in light of the increase in anti-social behaviour that we are seeing. In terms of building sustainable and secure communities I think we do need to consider these things moving forward.”
Building work on Sunderland's new Persimmon Homes is 'a living nightmare'
The Gateshead housing estate that stood for just 25 years before it was bulldozed
Final stage of controversial plans to transform the site of a former Gateshead coal mine approved
Homeowner horrified as 'river of sewage' runs down drive of £260,000 Cramlington new-build
