Proposed 13-home development in Low Fell rejected by councillors

Gateshead councillors have rejected plans for a new property development in Low Fell on over-development grounds

Plans for 13 houses in Low Fell have been rejected by Gateshead Council's planning and development committee due to concerns about overdevelopment. The plans from AWH Homes Ltd for the construction of over a dozen homes, including several bungalows, on vacant land off Eastern Avenue were rejected by councillors.

The proposals had been recommended for refusal by council officers, who raised concerns the land would be too crowded, with insufficient space for greenery or children's play areas. In addition, officers raised worries the site would not have enough private amenity space.

Council staff also stated in a report that there was insufficient information from the applicant on the potential impact of noise and vibrations from a nearby railway on potential future occupants. Stephen Litherland, of Origin Planning Services, representing the applicant, told the committee that there had been no communication between planning officers and himself, so he had been unaware of the complaints raised.

Mr Litherland asked the committee to defer a decision on the application so plans could be revised with the help of the local authority. However, the planning and development committee were later told by officers that no pre-planning application had been made. Councillors moved to reject the application.

Five letters of objection had been submitted to the local authority with concerns ranging from a fear of a lack of privacy to traffic and high worries about the creation of new accesses onto Eastern Avenue. The council's report also raised concerns that the site, which had previously been home to a petrol station, could have been contaminated by asbestos from previously contaminated buildings.

The plans were scrapped by councillors on Wednesday, October 2.

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