DEVELOPER Bellway Homes insists 75 new houses next to a school in Haydon Bridge would not lead to road safety issues.

The Newcastle-based firm has this week submitted plans to significantly extend its existing development at the Showfield, where Bellway built 40 homes almost a decade ago.

The controversial application had been expected by villagers, following a public consultation event in February, when concerns were raised over vehicular access, and the potential for flooding at the site.

Chief among the fears of residents, and members of Haydon Parish Council, is that access to the new homes will be provided by the existing Showfield entrance, just off Allendale Road.

They fear it would greatly increase traffic to the development, with the access route located directly opposite Shaftoe Trust Primary School’s eastern entrance.

And they claim it will lead to more woe for residents and motorists on Shaftoe Street, a bottle-neck which has been plagued with traffic problems for decades.

But Bellway, which has pledged to make up to 43 jobs available over the three-year construction period, insists the local road network would cope with additional traffic.

In a planning statement, the developer admitted that the layout of the site means an alternative access is not possible.

It added: “Traffic associated with the proposed development can be adequately accommodated on the local road network, without adverse impacts on the safe and free flow of traffic.

“There have been no accidents relating to the design of the road and the existing site access at the Showfield.“

Bellway acknowledged that some disruption would be inevitable during the three-year construction period, but said a management plan would be prepared to minimise inconvenience, and to control the routes takes by lorries accessing the site.

It added: “The proximity of the site access to the primary school is noted and the relationship between the two will be assessed by the county council highways team and discussed as the application is determined.”

Other community concerns include drainage at the site, with councillors claiming it was saturated during extreme rainfall in December last year.

Bellway said a flood risk assessment and drainage strategy has been prepared, but added: “The site is at low risk of flooding and lies outside the flood plain of the River South Tyne.

“The drainage strategy will manage ground water flows through the use of measures which will ensure that the level of surface run off from the site is below the existing rate.

“Therefore the proposals will effectively reduce flows and reduce the risk of flooding issues associated with this site.

“The drainage design will take into account the potential occurrence of extreme weather events to ensure that there is sufficient storage capacity.”

Bellway said that the new homes would be a mixture of two, three and four-bedroom houses; 11 of which would be be classified as affordable housing.

If the development goes ahead, it would include open space and plantations.

Two years ago, Northumberland County Council outlined its desire for 200 houses to be built in Haydon Bridge over the next 15 years as part of its county-wide core strategy.

Bellway added: “The proposed development constitutes sustainable development and will bring forward economic, social and environmental benefits.”

The proposal comes at a time when 20 houses are currently being built in a separate development at the west end of Haydon Bridge, at Tait’s Yard.