Duke's controversial housing site up for sale

Planning permission for the site was granted on appeal

The site of a controversial housing application has been put up for sale by the Duke of Northumberland's property firm.

Northumberland Estates was granted planning permission to build 63 homes on land south of Broomhouse Lane in Prudhoe in October despite strong opposition by local residents.

The land has now been put up for sale for an undisclosed price.

Northumberland Estate's Colin Barnes said the company was looking to attract a development partner to the site.

The land has been listed by Bradley Hall estate agents and the price is only available on application, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

It has been described as a "residential development opportunity" benefiting from "full planning permission".

Permission refused twice

Planning permission for the site was granted by the Planning Inspectorate on appeal after it had previously been refused twice by Tynedale Local Area Planning Committee.

The plans were initially turned down in February, only for the application to be reheard after a councillor who left the room during the discussions voted on the plans in a breach of planning policy rules.

The application was refused again the following month resulting in the appeal.

Gordon Stewart, a Conservative councillor representing the Prudhoe South ward, said: "I am following this with great interest, with the land being up for sale so soon after the planning refusal was overturned.

"I look forward to entering into dialogue with the current and future landowner and hope they will work with me to ensure the Prudhoe community is considered and kept informed."

Northumberland Estate's Mr Barnes said they "regularly purchase and sell" land.

"Currently, we are interested in attracting a development partner to the site; however, there are several options for taking the project forward, all of which remain open.

"Having obtained planning permission, we can move to the development stage with greater certainty."