Gateshead councillors have given the green light to proposals for 10 new homes on a vacant piece of land in Bensham. The site, located to the south of Derwentwater Road, was previously occupied by a 30-flat apartment complex that has since been demolished.
Development Details
The council's planning and development committee approved plans to construct four three-bedroom houses and six two-bedroom homes. Each dwelling will feature private outdoor space, with three flats having balconies on both front and rear elevations, while the rest will include private rear gardens.
The former flats had reached the end of their service life and were no longer financially viable, according to previous reports.
Council Assessment
The council's report stated: "It is considered that the proposal presents ten new dwellings that would provide an adequate amount of internal and external living space for future occupiers which would contribute towards providing a good standard of amenity."
While the plans do not include all three-bedroom properties as part of council policy to encourage a mix of housing, the local authority concluded that "the development would contribute ten new dwellings to the local housing stock in an established residential area." The council's policy does not require all new build projects to include homes with three or more bedrooms.
Public and Expert Feedback
No public representations, either objecting or supporting, were logged by the council. Additionally, Northumbria Police, the council's archaeological officer, and the Coal Authority did not raise any objections to the scheme.
Decision
The plans were approved by a majority, with only Low Fell councillor Dawn Welsh voting against. Welsh had previously raised concerns about the departure from the council's three-bed policy for the development.
