North East employer Banks Property submitted a planning application to the City Council in late 2015 for the proposed Hazlerigg scheme, which is located to the west of Hazlerigg village and to the south of Brunswick village on a 22 hectare site allocated for residential development within the joint Newcastle and Gateshead Core Strategy.
The 462-home development has been 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.
And after consideration by the planning committee, it was approved by a clear margin of ten votes to one.
Jeannie Kielty, development relations coordinator at The Banks Group, says: “Having had a recommendation for approval from Newcastle City Council’s planning officers for our Hazlerigg scheme, we’re very pleased that the members of the Council’s planning committee have also been minded to give their backing to it today and we thank them for their support.
“The Hazlerigg development will see an investment of around £150m being made in the regional economy, with around 280 jobs being created over the lifetime of the project, and has been designed to bring a wide range of economic, social, environmental, employment and supply chain benefits to the local area, as well as substantial funding for community improvements.
“The 462 homes that will be built at Hazlerigg will help to address the widely-acknowledged need for more high-quality homes to be built across the North East, while major investments will be made in local transport, education and healthcare infrastructure and facilities, as well as in the provision of affordable homes.
“A substantial New Homes Bonus payment from the government to Newcastle City Council will be triggered by this project, and it will also generate significant annual Council Tax revenues in support of the provision of local services.
“The project will also see the creation of 15 acres of new accessible open green space in the area, which will be equivalent to the size of almost ten football pitches, as well as major investments in the Havannah, Three Hills and Big Waters wildlife areas and in a local red squirrel protection programme.
“The Hazlerigg development will be created in line with the principles of sustainable development, as well as being designed to complement and enhance the existing character of the local area.
“We have had significant support for them from many people and businesses who are based in and around the area, for which we are extremely grateful, and we will keep the community fully informed on progress as the project moves forward.”
For further information on the Hazlerigg scheme and to register support for it, please visit www.banksgroup.co.uk/hazlerigg