Pelaw homelessness accommodation scheme granted permission to fix slope

Work has been granted to fix a slope at risk of slippage at a recently proposed site for homelessness accommodation.

A controversial homelessness accommodation project in Pelaw has been granted permission for ground works to fix an unstable slope.

Tyne Housing Association Ltd, a housing provider for vulnerable people, has been permitted to reprofile a steep slope to the north of an approved site for 20 self-contained apartments. Councillors agreed in March that land between Wynn Gardens and Queen Victoria Street could be used for the scheme, however, subsequent ground checks say work must be done to prevent the risk of slippage from the slope.

Documents submitted to Gateshead Council's planning and development committee stated while the approved apartments would not be affected by the stability of the slope directly, construction works could exacerbate the situation.

Now, work can commence to bind the soil in the slope and create a shallower gradient, followed by the planting of trees to act as a screen to neighbouring homes. However, the plans met with locals' resistance, amassing 72 objections on the council's online planning portal.

The scheme has already proved contentious, with the original plans garnering 52 objections. Objections ranged from a perceived loss of privacy, to a fear of crime and anti-social behaviour.

Speaking against the variations, councillor Amanda Wintcher said: "Unfortunately, I must object to this variation. I feel the entire proposal should be re-evaluated in light of the substantial civil engineering works that are being proposed. This application demonstrates that my initial concerns about the stability of the site that I raised previously were well founded."

Representatives on behalf of Tyne Housing told the planning committee that the issues with the slope would remain whether the project, which had already been granted permission, went ahead or not and this was an opportunity to address it.

Planning documents state: "It should be recognised that regardless of whether or not the proposed 20 apartments scheme gets built, the works to the slope need to be undertaken at the earliest opportunity to remove an existing health and safety risk that predates Tyne Housing’s interest in the site."

The planning committee granted permission for the application on Wednesday, October 2.