FORTY planning conditions attached to consent for up to 233 new homes in Corbridge have been branded as “leakier than a sieve” by a parish councillor.

Chartered structural engineer and Corbridge parish councillor, Marc Horn, made the comment at the latest meeting of Corbridge Parish Council in reaction to the news that the pre-commencement conditions attached to planning approval given to Gladman Developments in February have been discharged.

The application centres on building hundreds of homes on land off Milkwell Lane, near Corbridge Middle School, and prompted fierce opposition from the outset.

Residents, local councillors and school governors raised concerns over the access to the site, which will be via the narrow Cow Lane, past the gates of the middle school.

Speaking against the application at the planning committee meeting in February, Coun. Horn said widening a 250m stretch of Cow Lane, which would lead to a new school car park and turning loop for coaches, was not enough to make the access safe for cars, buses, lorries and pedestrians.

He told last Wednesday’s parish council meeting: “It’s a shame we find ourselves facing this but we have to get on with it now that it has all been approved.

“The conditions are leakier than a sieve and often very difficult to enforce. If I went to the site and started digging now it’s very unlikely anyone would come and stop me.

“The process now is that the land to widen Cow Lane, or the ransom strip if you’d like to call it that, has to be purchased from NCC.

“The whole site will then be put up for sale as a package to developers. But it could be sold off in chunks, so we’ve still got a long way to go before work starts on the site.”

Conditions outlining acceptable times for noise and activity during the construction period, the need for a biodiversity plan to minimise the impact of wildlife on the site, a construction management plan and the protection of green belt and “heritage asset” areas of the site are among those included.

A section 106 agreement, including the construction of affordable homes, the provision of children’s play equipment and public open space, has been signed.