Plans for a new housing development close to Cramlington’s recently-opened specialist Emergency Care Hospital have won the support of a local business owner.North East employer Banks Property is putting forward plans for the proposed Chapel View residential scheme, which would include 194 two-storey homes for families and first time buyers located on an eight hectare site to the south of the B1326 and the east of the A189.
The scheme, which would also include areas of informal green space, would be sited to the east of the Northumberland town’s new hospital – and now, John Batey, owner of J B Motors on the nearby East Cramlington Industrial Estate, is highlighting the importance of continuing to bring investment into the area as part of giving his backing to the plans
Founded 14 years ago, J B Motors offers the full range of car testing and repair services, and has recently moved into purpose-built premises as part of its continuing expansion, which also include the recruitment of a new mechanic to work alongside the business’s apprentice.
It is also currently looking to recruit an MOT tester to work in the new state-of-the-art MOT station which will test both cars and light commercial vehicles
John Batey, who can see the Chapel View site from the garage, says: “It makes a lot of sense to make new homes available close to the new hospital, and it would also mean that we’d continue to see new investment coming into East Cramlington, which would be welcomed by everyone and would continue the improvements that we all want to keep happening in our area.
“Most of our work comes from in and around Cramlington, so from our own point of view, having lots of new car owners coming into the area would potentially be a great boost for us, and I’m sure all the other businesses around here would similarly welcome an increase in the number of customers to whom they might sell their goods and services.”
The Banks Group is one of Northumberland’s largest private sector employers, with around 200 people employed at the nearby Shotton and Brenkley Lane surface mines. The North East family-owned business has worked in the area for more than three decades, and its local operations contribute around £35m to the regional economy every year through wages, investments and the local supply chain.
Mark Dowdall, environment and community director at The Banks Group, says: “We’ve had significant support over the last few months from people in the area about what we’re looking to do in their community, and John is one of many local business owners who’ve been keen to find out more about our plans.
“The Chapel View development would help to address the clear and increasingly pressing need across the North East to boost the available supply of quality homes, and it’s located in an area where we are certain there will be strong demand for the type of scheme that we are proposing.
“All our projects are designed to bring a range of economic, employment, environmental, supply chain and social benefits to the areas in which they’re based, and we’re hopeful that everything that this development would offer will see it win the backing of the local authority.”
A planning decision by Northumberland County Council on the Chapel View development is expected later in the summer. For further information on Banks’ outline plans, or to register support for them, please visit www.banksgroup.co.uk/chapel-