More than 70 new houses are set to be coming to Gateshead as fresh plans have been recommended for approval.
Gateshead Regeneration Partnership is behind proposals to build 73 houses on land bounded north and south of Blackfell Way in Birtley.
If Gateshead Council’s planning committee follow planning officers’ recommendations to give the proposals the green light, a mixture of two, three and four bedroom homes will be built on the site.
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A design and access statement lodged with the authority stated that the site, 1km north-east of the town centre, is well served by public transport with bus connections to Newcastle,Washington and Chester-le-Street, and all the houses are within the required 400m walking distance of a stop.
It also stated that the housing is a “short distance” from Front Street which boasts a variety of shops and supermarkets and is also close to schools and leisure centres.
It said: “The site benefits from being close to major employment areas, which include Birtley Town Centre, Portabello Industrial Estate and Team Valley Industrial Estate to the North and within easy commuting distance of Gateshead, Durham, Newcastle and Sunderland.
“In addition Birtley East School and Ravensworth Primary School and Lord Lawson Secondary School are in close proximity to the application site.”
The document said the surrounding land was once “pepper potted” with mine works and has a disused wagon way.
It said: “The area started to be regenerated in 2005 with a new link road named Mount Pleasant Road and Blackfell Way. The surrounding areas have gradually been developed into suburban housing.”
The statement said that the new homes would help families “live and grow” in the area.
It added: “These new homes will attract a range of owners that can live and grow in Gateshead including those who already live in the area to new owners from further afield. The scheme respects the housing within the surrounding area whilst providing regeneration of the local area.”
Authority planning officers backed the proposals writing in a report to the committee: “it is considered that the proposed development is acceptable in principle and in terms of housing policy, open space and play, highway safety and parking, design, residential amenity, drainage, ecology, trees, ground conditions, and digital infrastructure.”
The council’s planning committee is set to vote on the proposals on Wednesday.
