Controversial plans to build new homes on the site of a park storage area going in front of the council this week and are set to be given the green light - despite objections from local residents.
Gateshead Council applied for permission in principle to build four to 10 homes on the Felling Park Depot, off St John's Place.
Permission in Principle (PIP) means that the suitability of the site for housing will be looked at with other matters, such as the type of housing to be considered later.
A planning document explained: "It should be noted that all that should be considered with a PIP is the suitability of the site for housing and the number of dwellings expressed as a range that can be accommodated.
"Matters such as the type of dwellings, access, the layout of the site, the appearance of the site cannot be considered at this stage. Planning conditions or planning obligations also cannot be imposed."
Authority planners have given their backing to the scheme and have advised the planning committee to approve the plans.
In a report to council they point out that the homes would be close to the centre of Felling , which means shops and services are within walking distance and the area is served by public transport.
But fearful residents have sent 97 letters of objection to the authority.
They share concerns about traffic and parking, loss of play space for children and impact on wildlife among a long list of concerns.
Friends of Felling Park, a voluntary group that manages and maintains the park, have raised fears that the park would lose land, and have submitted a 165-signature petition against the scheme.
Charley Rutland, group secretary, previously told ChronicleLive : "Any development would mean that part of the park would need to be taken to create access to the site. Land that was gifted to the people of Felling.
"We agree that there is a need for more social housing in the area but this site is not huge so the houses would be rather small and the monetary gain from development of the site would be minuscule compared to the cost to the park's natural beauty and wildlife."
Gateshead Council's planning committee will decide on the application at a meeting on Wednesday.
