OLD pits in Prudhoe have helped to undermine plans by the Duke of Northumberland to build 36 homes in Prudhoe.

The old mine workings on land in the Ovington View area were among the reasons why Northumberland County Council‘s strategic planning committee on Tuesday turned down plans by the Duke’s business arm, Northumberland Estates, to build the homes, a third of them affordable.

The proposals attracted strong objections from Prudhoe Town Council, as well as opposition from another 24 individual objectors.

The Duke’s plans are for four one-bedroom flats, four two-bedroomed detached/semi-detached houses, 17 three-bedroomed detached houses and 11 four-bedroom detached houses.

Three of the three-bedroom dwellings, four of the two-bedroom properties and the four one-bedroom flats would all come into the affordable category.

The site would be accessed from Beaumont Way to the north and adjoins the built up area of Prudhoe, and is currently an open field.

The town council argued that the site was not an ‘infill’ development as was claimed in the application, but a location having high landscape value, treasured by the people of Prudhoe.

The council also expressed concern about wildlife on the site, including bats, brown hares and hedgehogs.

There were also concerns regarding flooding on the site with properties in Ovington Viewaffected by water flows.

The applicants themselves acknowledged there were “moderate to high” risks emanating from old coal workings on the site, involving gas and land subsidence.

The town council argued: “We consider such risks are too high to permit development of the site.”

It was also argued that the development did not fit in with existing housing; there was no adequate bus service and that much of the traffic from the development would use Highfield Lane to access the town.

The council claimed: “This important highway already operates at full capacity and will not be able to cope with additional traffic flows.”

Addressing the meeting on behalf of other objectors, local resident Guy Beauchamp said: “There is no doubt that this development would have an adverse effect on existing houses.”

Other objectors echoed these concerns, and it was pointed out that the nearest shops were a considerable walk away, with a steep bank to negotiate.

Planning officer Joanne Wood recommended refusal of the application, on the grounds that the siting of dwellings along the northern part of the site, would result in an overbearing impact upon, the neighbouring properties to the north west at Ovington View.

She was also concerned that the site has the potential to be contaminated, and noted that the Duke had not adequately assessed the risk to the site from the existing mine workings and any potential shallow workings on the remainder of the site.

There was also a deficiency in the amount of children’s play provision and outdoor sports facilities within the Prudhoe area, and there was no provision for an appropriate contribution towards off-site children’s play, open space or sport.

The application was rejected, but Coun. Norman Thorne, of Longframlington, warned: “I do feel that our case for turning this down is rather weak, and the applicant may well appeal.”

brian.tilley@hexham-courant.co.uk