Land north of Corbridge Road, Hexham: Public Consultation -
Feedback
Castles and Coasts Housing Association (CCHA) would like to thank the local community of Hexham for providing feedback on the recent online and in-person community consultant event, for the proposed 62-unit scheme at Corbridge Road.
The Development Team have listened to your feedback, and as part of the consultation, promised to deliver a response to each theme presented by the community.
You said:
The access into the potential site will cause traffic on what already is considered to be a dangerous road.
CCHA actioned:
CCHA instructed a speed survey; findings do not indicate that this section of Corbridge Road is a dangerous high speed road. The development proposal includes plans to extend the 30-mph speed limit and improved pedestrian access across the road.
You said:
The protection of the trees is at risk and development would have a negative impact on the ecology.
CCHA actioned:
CCHA have instructed a tree impact assessment to ensure the protection of the remaining trees on site, CCHA have also instructed a local ecologist to undergo assessments of the area to ensure no harm will come to any of the habitats or wildlife of the area. The site will be assessed under the same regulations as other sites to present a net gain in biodiversity.
You said:
There is a need for more affordable housing and bungalows within the development.
CCHA actioned:
CCHA previously instructed a housing needs survey in Hexham in order to ensure this development addresses the local housing need. The findings demonstrated a pressing need for family housing in Hexham, we have since changed our initial layouts of an older persons scheme to a mixed community suitable to address different types of need identified in the survey, including bungalows. The current development layout provides over 70% of the homes to be of the affordable with limited open market homes pepper potted throughout the site. The Open Market homes provide cross subsidy to fund the building of the affordable homes and they contribute to a mixed and diverse community.
You said:
There is a need for more shops and access to the town without car usage.
CCHA actioned:
CCHA have approached the local Moles store opposite the proposed development to deliver the feedback of the requirement for a convenience store. Moles are currently exploring the option to extend their range which would serve as a local convenience store for the Corbridge Road Development. The development is very well located for access to regular local bus services on Corbridge Road, which link to Hexham and the wider area.
November
The wide range of amenities within Hexham can be accessed on these bus services or on foot or cycle via Corbridge Road, including Hexham railway station that offers regional and national rail connections.
You said:
There is currently a pumping station on site.
CCHA actioned:
There will be no development encroaching onto the easement of the pumping station, and thus the development will have no negative affect.
You said:
Concerns on the infrastructure currently serving other communities and the impact the new development may have.
CCHA actioned:
CCHA are working alongside Civil Engineers to devise a drainage strategy that will serve the entirety of all new homes, this may include improving the current infrastructure. CCHA will endeavour to explore every possibility to ensure all new and improved infrastructure has the capacity for all new homes as the safety of all residents is our top priority.
You said:
The site is on Green Belt land and special circumstances have not been met.
CCHA actioned:
CCHA have instructed Hedley Planning to undergo an alternative site assessment, which included exploring the allocated sites in the Hexham Neighbourhood Plan and the Northumberland Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment. Out of the 70 sites identified, only three sites were identified as suitable, one of which is the land at Corbridge Road. We feel as an organisation that the unprecedented housing need in Hexham must be a top priority and the Corbridge Road development addresses this more than any other site.