THERE HAS been a mixed reaction to a new development of nine houses in Allendale.

Planners approved the development on Monday, which will see two detached houses, four semi-detached houses and three bungalows built near the centre of the village.

They will be positioned between Dale Park and Lonkley Terrace, just north of Lonkley Lodge.

The meeting was of Tynedale Local Area Council, which consists of county councillors from the Tynedale area.

Colin Horncastle, councillor for South Tynedale ward, voted for the development to go ahead.

He said: "It’s an ideal site, it was identified in the emerging local plan as a housing site so it was definitely going to be built on.

"An application came in last year for more houses with an urban design which wouldn't have fit into the area, so this outcome is ideal.

"There are concerns about the ground water levels but I’ve got full confidence in the council drainage officers that will be sorted.

"It had to happen. If we'd voted against it, they could've appealed and we would have lost the appeal."

David Humes, a Courant reader, said: "Any additional housing is welcome but these are on the more expensive side and are certainly not affordable housing."

This was echoed by Carol Dalton, who said: "More affordable housing is needed."

The issue was addressed in the meeting.  A Planning Officer explained that if the development had 10 houses, two of them would need to be classified as affordable houses.  If the developer wished to add homes later, they would still need to address this.

Nick Pepper added his thoughts: "Allendale seems to have huge demand outstripping supply for smaller units, affordable rent, or lower house prices for first time buyers, young families, and so forth.

"If these houses are largely appealing to people from outside the area who - for understandable reasons - want to live in Allendale then this development will have failed to meet the housing needs of the immediate community.

"I’m just saying that there are pressing housing needs in the village, and if this development solves them that is all for the good. If it doesn’t then it will have been a failure on those terms."