COUNCILLORS have “robustly” voiced their objections to plans for nine new homes on green belt land in Corbridge.

The Duke of Northumberland’s development arm Northumberland Estates has submitted an application for the homes, on land north of the B6530 road.

The firm has said that the homes at the site, which currently forms part of an agricultural field, would be affordable.

But at last Wednesday’s meeting of Corbridge Parish Council, which took place via videolink, members raised concerns over road safety, and the future impact of the development.

Chairing the meeting, Coun. Will Clouston, said: “This would be infilling a strategic part of the village which probably will be developed one day. But it shouldn’t be developed at the present time, and not in a piecemeal way. It should be a planned approach, that is why we have development plans.”

Coun. Clouston said access to the site was also a concern in terms of road safety.

Coun. Nick Oliver said that the average market value of houses in Corbridge would lead to concerns over the affordability of the homes.

Coun. Oliver, who represents Corbridge on Northumberland County Council, said he would be asking for the application to be discussed at committee level.

In a statement supporting the application, the developer said the scheme would be small scale, and sensitive to the area.

Key features such as the stone wall and mature tree boundary retained where possible and replaced throughout the development, reinforcing the character of the site, the statement added.

It continued to say that the development would be viewed in the context of Corbridge and the surrounding areas of built form in the village.