Job-creating housing scheme set for green light

Plans for a job-creating £8m residential development in Newcastle on the former site of a school have been recommended for approval despite opposition to the proposal.Applicant Bellway is seeking permission to develop 39 dwellings with associated access and infrastructure on a five-acre site located to the east of Grange Road and to the north of the Fenham Reservoir site.The brownfield land was previously occupied by Grange Road School which was demolished between 2009 and 2012.Thirty four-bedroom houses and nine five-bedroom properties are envisaged, all of which would be detached and be laid out on two main cul-de-sacs backing on to the existing houses on Grange Road and Acanthus Avenue.An area of open amenity space would be formed towards the centre of the development. It is estimated the project would support 45 temporary construction jobs over a two-year build period alongside 70 indirect jobs in the supply chain.Ahead of a Newcastle City Council planning meeting on 1 June, the application has been recommended for conditional approval, despite objections relating to issues such as access, the creation of a busy road junction and an increase in the amount of traffic in the area.In a report by planning officers, it is highlighted that the location is allocated for housing and considered to be sustainable as it represents brownfield development in an accessible area.The proposal is considered acceptable in relation to design, layout, and visual impact, while officers note that the level of traffic is likely to be significantly lower than that generated by the former school.The council has committed to spend approximately £820,000 of the capital receipt from the sale of the land on local sport improvements to alleviate the loss of former tennis courts, and an affordable housing contribution is to be paid to the authority.Planning obligations for maintenance of open space and drainage would also be provided.