Controversial plans to redevelop a fire-ravaged home in Murton which has become a hotspot for antisocial behaviour have been given the green light.
The vacant house on Murton Lane, known as Moorlands, will now be demolished, making way for seven detached four-bedroom homes.
North Tyneside Council's planning committee gave the plans the go-ahead despite concerns from both councillors and residents.
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The site also falls within the Murton Gap which has been earmarked for housing development since 2017. Around 2,700 new homes are expected to be constructed in due course.
However, 26 locals have objected to the plans online, with many concerned about the loss of green space, overdevelopment, and traffic. While residents welcome the repair or demolition of the home, many felt replacing it with seven new homes is unnecessary.
One resident described the prospective homes as "ugly" and "intrusive".
Conservative councillor for Collingwood, Olly Scargill, spoke to the committee and said: "Moorlands was a landmark as you entered Murton village and is deeply saddening that it has been left to get into the state. My view, in the view of many residents, is that this application should be amended to omit the building of seven new buildings and instead focus on the demolition.
"The property is the constant sight of vandalism and antisocial behaviour which is having a huge impact on the local residents. Last year the building caught fire, and the situation has got so bad that one resident was even physically assaulted after trying to warn people of the dangers of this property.
"So unfortunately, we are left in a position where the property must be demolished. However, the solution is not to replace the building with seven new dwellings.
"A recent Chronicle story outlines residents' fury about the plans, and at the last check, the application did not have a single supporting comment. Murton is already the subject of another huge planning application which would see its status as a village end with 3000 houses built around it.
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"Murton village is unique. Anyone who has been in the village knows the development of the seven new dwellings would spoil the character of the village, and visual intrusion of this will be most significant than the one property at the site currently.
"There are outstanding concerns about the level of nuisance to neighbours, wildlife, and the neighbouring stables in relation to noise and dust. Access to the village for residents will be significantly impacted during the building stage and the existing Murton Lane is not fit for such a high volume of traffic.
"This property must be demolished but it cannot be replaced with seven dwellings. Residents will be rightly furious if this is given the go-ahead and it is just the start of this council's determined action to destroy Murton village in the last about green space."
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The local authority's highways network manager concluded the proposed development would not result in an "unacceptable impact on highway safety" and did not believe the impact on the road network would be severe.
According to council documents, officers were also satisfied the development would not pose a significant impact on the surrounding environment and with mitigations create a biodiversity gain.
Summing up, councillor John O'Shea said: "I think I'm convinced by the presentation by our officers that this complies entirely with the Government's procedures and the local plan approved by the Government."
Councillor Julie Cruddas maintained the development was a good use of land which was already used previously for housing.
The application was granted in a split decision of seven votes in favour and one opposing.
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