A PLOT of green belt land within the conservation area of Newton village is to become home to two five bedroom detached houses.

A planning application from Allendale Estates, in conjunction with Countylife Homes, was given the go ahead on Tuesday at a meeting of Northumberland County Council’s planning committee.

Despite 22 objections, plus opposition from Bywell Parish Council, councillors voted 8 to 2 in favour of the homes, with integral garages, private driveways and landscaping of the site.

Approval was recommended by senior planning officer Kate Blyth who said limited infill development on green belt land was a clear exception in the National Planning Policy Framework.

The homes would be on a site which has existing development to three sides of it and would be set back from the road. They would have traditional frontages, constructed with rubble stone and timber windows, to ensure they were in keeping with the conservation area.

The plan to build on the land west of Tofts Cottages was first mooted in February 2013 when Allendale Estates held public meetings proposing up to four three and four bedroom homes.

The plans have since been scaled down, but objectors argue the application for two homes occupies almost the same amount of space.

On behalf of the Keep Newton Green residents’ opposition group, Grant Riddick said: “The residents’ group believes this development will cause permanent and irreversible damage to the green belt. The footprint of the two houses represents over 90 per cent of the area of the earlier application for three smaller houses.”

He added that the land was a large agricultural field, often used for grazing sheep, which was the last green open space in the village.

On behalf of the applicants, Robin Wood said: “The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear provision for small developments within villages like Newton and the applicants have worked with the council to respond to objectors and bring forward a high quality scheme.”

County councillor for Prudhoe South, Coun. Tony Reid, said: “If I lived in that village, I would be unhappy. These houses, in my view, are far too large. However, in planning terms, I can’t see how we can object to it.

“My heart is with the residents on this one, but my head is with the recommendation of the officer, to approve this.”