For formal planning permission to turn the Northumbria Police headquarters site on the outskirts of the village into a giant housing estate has finally been issued.
Councillors approved the outline plans for up to 263 new homes on the green belt site in October last year, subject to conditions - and all those conditions have now been fulfilled.
Due to reorganisation of the way the police operate, much of the sprawling headquarters site is surplus to requirements.
The only police requirements for the site are a communications centre and a command suite.
The remainder of the site is available for redevelopment, immediately alongside the former CARE village site, where 50 new homes are already under construction.
The application for the multi-million scheme was made by Northumbria Police Commissioner Vera Baird’s office.
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