RESIDENTS in Acomb are living under the shadow of a new housing development which has left huge mounds of earth towering over their homes.

Homeowners on Garden House Drive have watched in horror as heavy machinery moved on to a field behind their homes and workmen installed steel pilings which dwarf their garden fences. In places, the construction site is three metres high.

The residents have been at war with developer Avant Homes, as contractors continued to carry out earthworks and install new road surfaces on top of the steel structure in preparation for up to 40 new homes, which they feared would overlook their properties.

Despite examining plans in detail and attending village consultation events back in September, residents said the extent of the ground work required at Birkey Heights was not made clear.

Norman Robson, who lives in one of four properties which sit on the boundary of the development site, said: “We’d always known this field was earmarked for housing and that is something we accept. Our concerns are about unapproved development which has a dramatic negative effect on the neighbouring properties.

“The ground level of the nearest properties on the development is roughly level with the ridges of our properties.”

The original application dates back to 2015 and attracted 75 objections, with the parish council and many residents raising issues concerning road safety on Garden House Bank and increased flood risk.

But planning permission was granted by Northumberland County Council, with a further application to vary conditions yet to be approved.

“Perhaps more frightening is that there is nothing to stop these machines from running over into our gardens,” said resident Helen Hayes-Wynne.

“We are actually frightened to be outside any more.”

Local county councillor Trevor Cessford said: "I would implore Avant Homes to realise that, while for them this may just be a day-to-day problem to be faced, for the residents it is a blight on their lives for many years to come."

Avant Homes insisted it had full consent and said approved ground levels were actually higher than what was currently being delivered.

A spokesman said: "We find it upsetting that, having gone to such lengths to understand the views of our immediate neighbours, we are now being criticised unfairly, publicly and on the basis of allegations which can be shown to be, at least, misleading and, at worst, mischievous.

"Engineering works to facilitate residential development of our land were approved by the local authority in February this year.

"The levels approved are higher than those currently being provided, and would result in a greater, lasting visual impact.

"In consultation with local residents and the local authority, we have redesigned those works, and others, in order to reduce the levels and deliver a significant reduction in that impact, and therefore an improvement to the immediate locale."

A county council spokeswoman said: "A breach of planning control has occurred and the council is currently working with the developer in an attempt to resolve the issues.

"We are still at the negotiation stages but if this fails the council will review options for taking formal action. The council is also taking legal advice on the matter."