DESPITE public objections, plans for 181 new homes in Corbridge have been given the green light.

At Tuesday’s meeting of Northumberland County Council’s strategic planning committee, members approved the application for land west of Milkwell Lane.

Plans for 233 homes at the site were given outline planning permission in September 2016, but the number of houses had been reduced in the new application, and councillors were asked to consider the layout, scale, appearance and landscaping for the homes.

In the joint application, Bellway proposed 58 homes on land to the northern part of the site and north of the main estate road, and Miller Homes proposed 123 homes on the remainder of the site.

The housing included 27 affordable homes, and the planning application also included a new area for car parking and bus drop-offs to serve the adjacent middle school.

The proposals sparked 18 objections, and at the meeting, Corbridge Middle School governor Peter Jewitt, said the safety of pupils was the school’s main concern in relation to highways issues.

But councillors chose to approve the application after a series of new conditions were put forward at the meeting.

Work on the development will not be allowed to start until details showing the proposed highway works have been submitted to and approved by planning officers.