Villagers put their stamp on new homes

Sep 5 2007 by Iain Laing, The Journal

LAW firm Watson Burton has helped Newcastle housebuilder Bellway to create two housing schemes in a Northumberland village.

The Newcastle firm worked closely with Bellway on the unusual plan, which included getting villagers to help design the homes coming to their community.

Bellway is now building the first 22 homes, The Pines, just west of Linton, near Wooler. The second development will be built at the site of the American Air Filters factory.

Simon Scougall, property partner at Watson Burton, believes the way in which the housebuilder worked with the parish council and local people was key to the success of their plans.

He said: “Bellway involved local people from the beginning, asking them for their views on designs and listening to their comments. The result is new houses that blend in well with the semi-rural landscape and existing community at Linton.

“We have worked with Bellway on all aspects of these schemes, and it is great news to see that The Pines is now underway. It and the second housing development will have an effect not only on Linton but on the wider area.”

Christine Armstrong, Bellway’s land manager, said the new houses will give people in south-east Northumberland a new focus. She said: “The new houses regenerate a village that was fighting school closure because there are so few children living in Linton. The Pines will bring young families to the community, and inject new life into its facilities, including the community centre, Brownie hall and school.”

Ms Armstrong believes the support and involvement of the parish council was instrumental in helping to get the schemes through the planning process.

She said: “We came to Linton proposing big changes to a village that has seen little movement for more than 50 years. We were fortunate to enlist the help of local people who worked with us to create a housing scheme which we all agreed would suit the location and attract new life to Linton.”

The second scheme at the former AAF site will have 41 houses including seven bungalows.

The AAF factory has first to be demolished and the site cleared. It will be completed by 2010.