The submission of the first planning application as part of the scheme to re-instate passenger rail services to south east Northumberland including Ashington, Bedlington, Blyth and Seaton Delaval has been welcomed.

Two stations will be constructed to serve Blyth at Bebside and Newsham with the first application submitted linked to providing a footbridge over the A189 Spine Road to connect the station at Bebside to the housing in the Kitty Brewster area of Blyth.

Further planning applications will be submitted in the next few days for the station in Ashington town centre and also the station at Northumberland Park in North Tyneside which will give users the opportunity to change onto the Metro network.

Ian Levy, the MP for Blyth, said “The Government recently provided £34m to rapidly progress this project and I am delighted that the first milestone to be achieved relates to the station at Bebside.

“For decades we have had promises made then broken but at last residents can be assured that significant investment is underway.

“It is also fantastic that the work Northumberland County Council has done in the last couple of years is paying off with the funding also allowing land acquisition and site preparation. I look forward to seeing the project develop and will continue to remind the Government how important this scheme is for Northumberland.”

Having planning permission in place will support the project’s business case and will form part of the bid for the balance of the funding to be provided by the Department of Transport.

This is anticipated to be determined later this year with construction due to get under way in 2022.