NEW apartments for the over-55s are set to be built after planning permission was granted.

Karbon Homes has been working with architects JDDK to draw up plans for the £4m building which will provide 34 one and two-bed apartments in Ponteland.

The building will replace the existing Athol House on Callerton Lane.

Karbon said it had consulted extensively with the local community, parish and county councillors, before agreeing the scale and style of the new building.

A consultation session was first held in November 2018 to allow architects to hear any community concerns and plans were adjusted accordingly.

All Athol House residents were rehoused to alternative accommodation of their choice and were offered support to ensure they were rehoused satisfactorily.

All residents were also appropriately compensated for the disruption.

The new development will provide affordable, good sized homes – 28 of which are two-bed apartments and six one-beds.

The building has been designed to encourage social interaction between residents, but to also offer a sense of peace and relaxation.

The site sits just outside of the Ponteland conservation area.

Sarah Robson, director of development and regeneration for Karbon Homes, said: “We’ve tried to put forward a development which meets the needs of the local community for high quality, affordable housing for older people.

“We listened to the views of local residents and made some adjustments to our original proposals to reflect their views.

“The building is intended to sit comfortably in this location, retaining mature trees around the site, and not being sited too close to neighbouring properties.”