Councillors have approved plans for 39 affordable homes – despite raising a number of concerns with the development.

Durata Development, part of the Aspire Group, secured planning permission for the scheme on a brownfield site off Cross Street, in Chesterton.

The development will consist of 23 affordable apartments, eight walk-up apartments and eight bungalows on land previously occupied by 20 maisonettes. Durata said the proposal would bring a sustainable, brownfield site back into use, while providing the borough with much-needed affordable housing.

While members of Newcastle Borough Council's planning committee were generally supportive of the scheme, they expressed some concerns over the loss of trees and the fact that a section of road would be unadopted.

The scheme will consist of 23 affordable apartments, eight walk-up apartments and eight bungalows (Google).

Councillor Richard Gorton said: "I welcome the application and I'm delighted that it includes provision for bungalows. They don't seem to figure very often in applications. I'm sure the authority would want to ensure that there is a range of accommodation.

"But I was less happy to note unadopted roads. This does cause some inconvenience and I wish developers woudn't do it."

Officers told the committee that there would only be one short section of unadopted highway in the development, serving a central parking area. And while the will result in the loss of 11 existing trees, the scheme would result in a net increase in trees.

A development of this size would normally require a financial contribution towards local open space. But the applicant said this would make the scheme unviable – a claim that was confirmed by the borough council through an independent third party. Councillor Susan Beeston, who represents Holditch and Chesterton, said she was 'dismayed' that there would be no financial contributions from the developer.

Councillor John Williams, meanwhile, raised concerns over the lack of information on the tenure of the new homes, asking whether there would be more or fewer affordable rented properties compared to the previous maisonettes.

Officers said that one of the conditions would require the applicant to provide information on tenure prior to the development going ahead. Committee members voted to approve the application, subject to conditions.

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