Member Article

Plans forwarded for 500 home residential development in Hazlerigg

Plans for a new residential development to the north of Newcastle are set to go on show for the first time next month.

Banks Property is putting forward outline proposals for the Hazlerigg scheme, which would be located on a 20 hectare site to the west of Hazlerigg village and the south of Brunswick village, that has been identified in NewcastleGateshead’s ‘One’ Core Strategy as a suitable location for this type of residential development.

The scheme, which would be created in line with the principles of sustainable development, would include around 500 homes, and would be designed to complement and enhance the existing character of the local area, as well as to bring to it a wide range of economic, social, environmental, employment and supply chain benefits.

Local residents can take a first look at the outline proposals between 3pm and 8pm onThursday 4 June at Hazlerigg War Memorial Hall on Coach Lane in the village.

Members of the Banks project team will be on hand to answer exhibition visitors’ queries about the scheme, and to gather initial feedback on what’s on show.

Following the exhibition, a programme of meetings with local people, businesses and community organisations will be set up by Banks Property to ensure all interested parties are able to put forward their ideas and comments about the Hazlerigg proposals in advance of the submission of an outline planning application to Newcastle City Council later in the year.

Mark Dowdall, environment and community director at The Banks Group, says: “There is an acknowledged need for more homes to be built across the North East in order to meet the needs of a growing population and provide local families and people with the opportunity to live in the places that they wish to be.

“We believe the Hazlerigg site offers an excellent option for around 500 new homes in a location which we know will be very popular with people wanting to move to or stay in the area, and we are promoting the scheme in line with NewcastleGateshead’s ‘One’ Core Strategy.

“As with all our projects, extensive and meaningful discussions with local people will be central to the design work that we do, and we hope as many people as possible will be able to come along to our exhibition and talk to us about what we’re looking to undertake.

“We will take the time needed to ensure all interested parties have every opportunity to find out about our proposals and contribute their opinions and ideas about them, and are also already conducting a number of assessments which will examine the different issues relating to the proposed site, including highways, ecology and landscape.

“As well as offering much-needed new homes, this development could bring many other tangible benefits to the local area, including new jobs, new commercial opportunities for local companies and substantial funding for community improvements that would make a real, long-term difference to the facilities that local residents enjoy.

“As a North East-based, family-owned business that has worked in this area for many years, we fully understand the importance of working closely with local communities around our all of our developments, and we will ensure everyone is kept fully up-to-date as our design work progresses.”

The Banks Group currently employs over 200 people across the nearby Brenkley Lane and Shotton surface mine sites, which jointly contribute around £35m to the regional economy every year through wages, investments and the local supply chain, as well as more than £400,000 in annual business rates to Northumberland County Council and Newcastle City Council.

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