DESPITE 95 formal objections and a barrage of community opposition, a planning application for 237 homes on a greenfield site in Corbridge has been recommended for approval.

Subject to 40 separate conditions, Northumberland County Council senior planning officer Caroline Jones, recommends in her report to the council’s strategic planning committee on Tuesday that the housing scheme on land west of Milkwell Lane submitted by Gladman Developments, is acceptable in principle.

Residents, Corbridge Parish Council, the village trust and the middle school have all expressed grave concerns over access arrangements and question whether the existing village infrastructure could cope with such a major population explosion.

Proposed vehicular access to the site would be via the narrow Cow Lane, and documents submitted by the parish council argue that coaches, lorries and cars would struggle to pass safely.

But the proposed access arrangements hinge on the applicant acquiring a strip of county council-owned school land.

A school car park for approximately 45 cars with a coach loop road and bus/coach layby is being offered in compensation.

Chairman of governors at the middle school, Jo Holmes, said in a statement: “We have concerns about whether pupils will be able to travel to school safely.”

The latest meeting of Corbridge Parish Council on Wednesday heard that chairman, Coun. Maurice Hodgson, had written to the county council to seek assurances that no agreement has been reached over the land transfer, prior to the application being approved.

Coun. Hodgson, said: “This hasn’t come as a complete surprise but I’m confident that we couldn’t have done any more to make our feelings known.

“Access is the key and we just want to be sure that this has all been handled with due process and transparency. In my opinion, it feels as if the county council is so concerned that if they do turn it down, Gladman would appeal, and there is pressure on the planning department not to get into that position.”