Controversial plans to build almost 100 homes on the site of a demolished Newcastle school look set to go ahead – despite a backlash from locals.
A developer is bidding to put a 99-house estate on the former Chapel Park Middle School in the outer west and councillors could give the scheme the green light next week.
Gentoo Homes’ designs for the Granville Drive site, in Chapel Park, have been recommended for approval at Newcastle City Council’s planning committee on Friday, November 12.
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That is in spite of heavy public opposition, with dozens of objectors claiming that the land is being over-developed and angry at the loss of green space.
Among the complaints of the 93 residents who have objected to the scheme are claims that an influx of traffic to the new homes will leave roads “overloaded” and anger that a proposed £550,000 payment from the developer to make up for the loss of the school’s old playing fields will be spent on the Gala Field in Newbiggin Hall rather than in Chapel Park itself – something one local called “in all honesty a disgrace”.
Another opponent of the housing plan, which had originally been for 102 homes, told the council: “The people of the west of Newcastle need open spaces, or leisure facilities to keep them fit and well especially after the past year and a half, surely this land could be used more constructively to maintain the health and welfare of the community.”
Chapel ward councillor Marc Donnelly said the solution “is quite simple, to halve the number of homes” and accused the city council of "disregarding the health and wellbeing of the local residents" by not providing replacement playing fields or green space.
However, council planners have recommended that the planning committee backs the scheme next week, subject to a legal agreement being signed and receiving assurances that it would not “unacceptably increase flood risk in the area”.
Their report ahead of Friday’s hearing states: “The proposals are acceptable in terms of the design, layout and visual impact of the scheme and it is not considered that the proposal would demonstrably harm residential amenity so as to justify a refusal of planning permission on those grounds.
“The proposal would not unacceptably impact on the highway network and the on-site highway layout and levels of parking provision are acceptable. The proposal includes a coherent landscaping scheme which will enhance the public realm.
“Whilst some existing trees and hedgerow would be lost as a result of the development, the overall landscaping scheme and demonstrable net gain to biodiversity are such that the scheme is acceptable in this regard.”
The planning application states that the development will be a “truly sustainable community for family living, with a mix of quality housing set within an attractive landscape”.
The proposed dwellings would comprise a mix of two, three, four and five bedroom properties, mainly two storeys, but with four bungalows included.
First opened in 1974, Chapel Park Middle School was closed in 2005 as the area was controversially reorganised into a two-tier education system.
