A Tynemouth councillor has accused North Tyneside Council’s planning committee of prioritising a developer's profits margins at the expense of residents. It follows the approval of a controversial residential development close to Tynemouth Metro Station.
However, the chairman of the planning committee, Coun Willie Samuel, has rejected the claims that residents will not feel a financial benefit from the contentious Tynemouth station development.
The developer, Station Developments ltd, originally told North Tyneside Council if it was made to pay around £375,000 in section 106 money the project would not be viable. Section 106 payments are cash agreements between council’s and developers which can be agreed to mitigate consequences of projects in an area.
Read More: Hope North Tyneside coastal heritage building could be saved by link to revered artist
North Tyneside Council’s planning committee decided not to push for these payments as recommended in the council officer’s report into the development. However, councillors did request the developer pay £23,927 in the coastal mitigation fund.
Tynemouth tory councillor Lewis Bartoli, a fierce opponent of the development, said: “That’s £375,000 they have taken out of the public purse to put into the provider’s coffers. They tell me all the time they don’t have enough money, they blame the cuts, they blame the Government, and then they turn down all that money.
“The decision stinks!”
Councillor Willie Samuel, chairman of North Tyneside Council’s planning committee, said: “To say the conditions have been waived is not accurate. We are at very early stages. The officers can now go away and do whatever they need to do."
Councillor Samuel went on to say there may be options whereby the developer could agree to “looking after the station and improving it” in lieu of section 106 payments. Councillor Samuel also discussed the possibility of the council receiving a “share of the profits” to “maintain the station”.
North Tyneside Council told ChronicleLive it could not comment on commercial details relating to the developer and the local authority.
A spokesperson for North Tyneside Council said: “The Planning Committee approved the application subject to a legal agreement for a contribution of £23,927 towards the coastal mitigation scheme. A viability assessment was submitted by the applicant which detailed that the scheme would not be viable if the full section 106 requirements were provided. Therefore only the coastal mitigation contribution could be sought.
“All the documents relating to this application can be found on our website."
Read More:
'Inappropriate activities' including flying drones could be banned on North Tyneside council land
Controversial Tynemouth "Gulag-style" housing development criticised by councillors
CEO of Blyth battery plant Britishvolt steps down from business
Striking images show how £20m Levelling Up bid could transform South Tyneside
