MORE INFORMATION

The detailed elements of the proposal are described in turn below.

New Homes

Story Homes and Amethyst Homes will deliver 175 dwellings each. A mix of 2, 3, 4 and 5-bed properties are proposed, of between 1 and 2.5 storeys.

Story Homes will develop the northern areas shown on the layout plan; Amethyst Homes will develop the southern areas and those adjacent to the Local Centre. Both housebuilders propose a mix of Semi/Terraced and Detached homes, with Bungalows in the southern Amethyst areas.

Parking is provided as either front and side parking or integral or detached garages, with an appropriate level of visitor parking distributed throughout the site.

10% of the dwellings will comprise affordable homes, with the rest being open market dwellings.

Sustainable Transport

The design for the site has been led by a sustainable transport vision, which aims to ensure that sustainable modes are the first choice for all people travelling within, to and from the site.

The site will benefit from a new signal-controlled access point onto the B1326 which will incorporate pedestrian and cyclist crossing points for connections to wider active travel routes.

High-quality direct, safe, coherent active travel links will be provided throughout the site. Provisions have been designed to minimise distances on foot and by cycle, ensuring active and public transport trips can be undertaken for most journey purposes.

A public transport strategy is proposed for the site a range of measures to ensure regular bus services within walking distance of each dwelling. This includes diverting an existing service into the site and providing a shuttle bus service to facilitate access to the schools in Cramlington and Seaton Delaval, as well as Cramlington and Seaton Delaval train stations.

Public Rights of Way (PRoW)

The existing route of the PRoW 300/125 running north-south will largely be retained, with a slight diversion proposed around the northernmost residential cell to connect into the proposed active travel routes between the development cells. The route is currently recreational in nature and will be upgraded to a 3m wide rolled stone path. The route will connect to other routes around the site, providing multi-user access throughout the year for the benefit of walkers, cyclists and equestrians.

View the Site Hierarchy Plan HERE

Landscaping and Open Space

The proposal is landscape-led; a significant amount of open space and landscaping is proposed within the site, providing a core greenspace in a central location and green routes between each of the development cells.

Play space is provided in the form of Local Areas of Play (LAPs) accessible to each dwelling; a central Locally Equipped Area of Play (LEAP) adjacent to an informal kickabout space; along with a centrally located outdoor gym. The active travel routes are supported by opportunities for ‘play on the way’ and seating areas such as picnic benches, to encourage all ages and abilities to maximise the use of the open space.

The landscaping strategy complements this providing centralised growing opportunities alongside the recreational areas and areas of play; and providing features of interest such as turf mounds and alternative green routes connecting to the active travel routes.

Tree planting is proposed as a feature alongside the spine road and in between cells, including feature trees in key landscape nodes. This is complemented by a variety of both native and ornamental planting comprising structural planting and hedgerow, alongside native mixed scrub, native mixed woodland, and ornamental groundcover.

The landscaping scheme has been developed with the ecological mitigation and drainage plans to ensure a coherent approach which maximises benefits for BNG and sustainable drainage.

Sustainable Drainage

The drainage system for the development will keep foul water and rainwater separate. Rainwater will be managed using a range of green, sustainable features known as SuDS. These include:

swales: shallow grass channels;
rain gardens and bioretention areas: landscaped areas with plants and soil designed to soak up rainwater from roofs, paths and roads;
permeable paving and filter drains: areas that allow water to pass through them rather than running off within the housing areas.

All of these features help slow down and clean the water before it flows into larger swales and SuDS basins, eventually reaching the main drainage basin located in the Green Belt to the north‑east of the site. The surface water will be discharged at a restricted rate, which will reduce loading on the surrounding watercourses and ultimately the Seaton Burn offering benefit to the local area.

Ecological Mitigation and BNG

The red line boundary extends beyond the proposed development cells to the north east in the Green Belt, adjacent to the main SuDS basin; and includes two separate field parcels to the south in existing arable fields. All of these areas are proposed for skylark mitigation and will be planted with improved meadow grass. The proposed grass planting also provides Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) compared to the existing arable use.

It is anticipated that the statutory 10% net gain in biodiversity can be achieved with the retention of existing vegetation and proposed additional landscaping throughout the site.

Some areas of hedgerow and trees will need to be removed to accommodate the proposed development; these have been minimised through a sympathetic design approach to the landscape which seeks to retain the majority of field boundaries and the existing tree belt. The proposed development is also offset from existing ditches wherever possible.