Decision on Killingworth Moor homes delayed for second time

A decision to build more than 500 homes has been delayed again after a last-minute update in government guidelines.

The application had been considered under the previous guidelines and council planners felt uncomfortable presenting it after the change, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The plans had been recommended for approval despite more than 160 objections from local residents.

A decision is due to be made at the next committee meeting on 11 January.

Members of the North Tyneside Council planning committee were due to make a decision on proposals for 539 new homes on the southern part of Killingworth Moor earlier.

However, just two hours before the planning committee meeting began, the government issued a revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

It sets out government’s planning policies for England and replaces the previous NPPF, originally published in 2012 and most recently revised in September.

The application is part of the Killingworth Masterplan, envisaged by North Tyneside Council in 2017.

In total, around 2,000 homes are proposed to be built on the moor by Bellway, Banks Property, and Northumberland Estates in a series of stages.

The whole project will also entail several major updates to the surrounding road networks and infrastructure.

A decision on the Killingworth application was originally due in October, but it was delayed after important documents were shared late.