Newcastle Great Park expansion formally approved

Newcastle City Council has issued formal planning consent for an expansion of Newcastle Great Park near Gosforth in the north of the city.It means work can now begin on 1,200 new homes – a mix of marketable and affordable housing 75% of which will be for families.Two new schools will also be built – a first school providing spaces for 450 pupils and a middle/secondary school for up to 1,700 pupils.The phased multi-million development on the northern edge of the Great Park also involves the creation of new habitats for wildlife, ecological enhancements, new playing fields, a changing pavilion, car parking and new public open spaces on what is mainly agricultural land.There will also be significant investment in the highway infrastructure including new cycle routes and bus services to ensure it can accommodate the transport requirements of new families moving into the area.The application was granted planning approval by councillors in December 2018, but it has taken eight months of negotiation for all parties, including the council and developers to sign the legal agreement triggering the formal planning approval by planners.Cabinet Member for Housing, Cllr Linda Hobson, welcomed the approval and urged all parties to start work without delay.Work began on Newcastle Great Park in 2001. It’s expected to be complete by 2034.So far 2,000 of the 4,500 homes promised have been built.