Former paddock land in North Tyneside is to be used for housing by Bellway North East as it announces an investment of more than £400,000 in local facilities.
The housebuilder has bought a 6.6-acre site in Benton, south of Whitley Road, which was formerly used by the Animal and Plant Health Agency. It has plans there for a 74-house housing development which will be known as Autumn Ford.
The news follows the granting of planning permission by North Tyneside Council for the site's redevelopment, with local investment being part of that. As part of the detailed planning agreement, Bellway is set to contribute £200,000 towards primary education in the area; more than £100,000 for sports facilities; £46,200 for play or games areas and £39,400 towards parks and green spaces.
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There also will be payments made 'towards ecology and biodiversity, coastal mitigation and allotments', it adds. On the land - which is within walking distance of a Metro station and shops - it plans to build 45 three and four-bedroom houses and 10 two-bedroom apartments for the private market plus 19 'affordable apartments' which it says will be available for local people through low-cost rent or shared ownership.
And, in a nod to the land's former use as a paddock, a central area of green open space will be incorporated, with trees and shrubs planted to help retain its character. David McCrindle, regional director at Bellway North East, said: “Now that we have bought this land at Benton, we can move forward with our plans to deliver a brand-new neighbourhood designed to meet the needs of local people.
"We worked closely with North Tyneside Council to ensure that it is happy with our plans to build a range of three and four-bedroom houses and one and two-bedroom apartments at Autumn Ford." He added: “We will not only be regenerating a disused plot of land formerly used by the Animal and Plant Agency but also be making a significant investment of more than £400,000 to help improve services and facilities in the local area.
"Part of that commitment will see us provide either funding for training and employment or two apprenticeships at the development.” He said the site is an ideal location for the development as it is within walking distance of local shops and of the Metro station's services to Newcastle four miles away.
“Meanwhile, the Rising Sun Countryside Centre, which offers 400 acres of open space including a nature reserve, grassland, woodland and a lake, is just two miles away," he said. Other new Bellway North East housing developments in the area include Centurion Chase in Wallsend.
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