Social landlord, Isos plan to build a new development for elderly residents in the town.
But before the development can get the go ahead, St Cuthbert’s Close sheltered housing scheme on Priestlands Lane must be demolished.
This week Northumberland County Council’s strategic planning committee granted permission for Isos Housing to demolish the two-storey accommodation block and a pair of semi-detached houses.
The application was considered separately from an application for the site’s re-development which has recently been submitted.
The properties, on St Cuthberts Close and 22 and 24 Hencotes, date back to 1972 and Isos say are no longer fit for purpose.
However, the Highways Authority stated that they could not recommend the application until details of the method of demolition was submitted.
This concern was echoed by a local resident who spoke at the meeting on Tuesday, December 7.
He said: “The application contains not one word about the demolition method, it ignores totally the safety of hundreds of school children who pass through the site.”
Coun. Trevor Cessford also spoke at the meeting in objection to the application.
Noting the town council’s surprise that its objection had not been included in the report, he said: “As well as objecting to the demolition of two very sound buildings we would object to this application primarily on the suggested new access on Hencotes and the safety issues resulting from it. Hencotes is already a very busy road, especially at peak times.”
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