A NORTHUMBERLAND nobleman’s dream of a towering monument to the Queen has moved a step closer to becoming a reality.

In May, Lord Devonport, or Terence Kearley, 3rd Viscount Devonport, as he is also known, announced plans to build a 55m high monument to the Queen that would dwarf the Angel of the North.

Lord Devonport, who has been planning the landmark for 20 years, identified a hill known as Cold Law, in the Ray Demense Estate between the five parishes of Corsenside, Otterburn, Great Bavington, Kirkwelpington, and Elsdon.

Three artists were commissioned to create designs for the monument, and now, West Country-based sculptor Simon Hitchens’ design has been chosen to realise Lord Devonport’s vision.

A panel was appointed to choose the design, along with public consultation events held across Redesdale from May to July.

Lord Devonport said: “The quality of the three proposals was extremely high and it was very important to me to gather public feedback, from the website and our exhibitions, which is why we extended our community consultations in July.”

A team of engineers will now work with Hitchens to create a detailed technical design that will form part of a pre-planning application that will be submitted to Northumberland County Council.

Lord Devonport added: “With a project of this size and scale, the pre-planning application process allows us to identify some of the specifics of the site and the construction.”

The project will also include a series of walking trails, which together with the monument itself will celebrate the shared heritage of the Commonwealth, referencing the Queen’s leadership of the countries.

Artists, writers, creatives and sculptors from various Commonwealth countries will have an input on what is expected to be a £2m project, with a national fund-raising campaign planned to pay for it.