CONTROVERSIAL plans to build 2,000 homes on green belt land in Ponteland have taken a step forward despite opposition from residents.

Outline planning permission for Dissington Garden Village was granted by the majority of councillors at a strategic planning committee meeting on Wednesday.

The plans involve 2,000 houses, along with shops and leisure facilities, to be built on the Dissington Estate, north of Darras Hall.

The proposed garden village was put forward by Newcastle-based developer Lugano, as part of a government initiative to increase housing across the UK.

Objectors argued that the plans would swamp the town, impact on roads and had no evidence of the 'very special circumstances' required to build on green belt land.

Speaking on behalf of Ponteland Town Council, which has submitted a "full, comprehensive objection" to the proposals, Coun. Lesley Noble said: "It fails on many levels to meet the criteria, not least its position in the green belt and the lack of community support."

At the same meeting, outline planning permission was also given for a new education and leisure campus in Ponteland.

This would replace the existing leisure centre with a new leisure centre, library, primary school and secondary school.

An application by Banks Property for 400 homes on green belt land at West Clickemin Farm, west of Cheviot View in Ponteland, was also granted outline planning permission.

Ponteland resident John Blundell objected to all three applications, and speaking at the meeting about the West Clickemin farm development said: "There have been over 1000 objections to this proposal.

"For this proposal to be approved denies the localism of resident's wishes and aspirations."

All three will now be passed to The National Planning Casework Unit, which will either confirm the council's decision or pass it to the secretary of state.

Councillor Richard Dodd, county councillor for Ponteland North, said the proposal for over 3,000 new homes in Ponteland would be almost doubling the 4,000 already in the town, which would affect infrastructure and services like the doctor's surgery.

"What are we going to end up with? Not La La Land; Lugano land," he said.

But supporters of the Garden Village scheme said it would bring a new relief road to Ponteland which would alleviate traffic congestion, as well as 500 affordable homes and flood defences.

Head of planning services Mark Ketley told councillors: "We are in continued dialogue with Newcastle City Council about the impact on the strategic corridor, particularly on the route from the airport into Cowgate through to the city centre.

"The work is ongoing and if approved it is subject to the resolution of these issues."

The planning officer's report states that 'exceptional circumstances' required for building on green belt are met by the need to provide a mix of additional housing and employment opportunities, with a limited availability of land available within the settlement boundary.

Councillor Paul Kelly, chairman of the strategic planning committee, said: “It makes sense that it would be better to have a development to round out the existing settlement boundary than going outside the settlement boundary.”

In approving the outline planning application for Dissington Garden Village, councillors agreed it would be subject to a number of conditions including an extended public consultation and coming to agreements with Highways England about the impact on roads.