Campaigners’ 'shock' as housing developer starts work at the South Tyneside College site
A housebuilder with plans to redevelop South Tyneside College’s campus has been accused of jumping the gun – by starting earthworks ahead of having its scheme approved.
Environmental campaigners say they were shocked to discover Miller Homes had started tearing up turf on the playing fields and erected promotional signage for its proposed development.
They claim council planning bosses were unaware the developer had moved on site when contacted and their inquiry was brushed off.
The college is moving to a new multi-million-pound campus a mile away in South Shields town centre, which is expected to open next year.
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Miller revealed it planned to build 198 houses on land off St George’s Avenue and Grosvenor Road, at Westoe, 62 fewer than Avant.
The firm also said it expected to save several mature trees, earmarked for felling under Avant’s original housing estate design.
Its scheme, due to go before South Tyneside Council’s planning committee on Monday, March 9, was given cautious approval by campaigners.
They had slammed Avant’s development on the grounds that too many trees – a total of 143 – would be lost and too many houses built.
But they vowed to continue to press Miller to save even more trees and reduce house numbers if possible – and have questioned why it is carrying out preliminary work.
Colin Porter, 66, spokesman for South Tyneside Tree Action Group (STAGG), which monitors and acts against tree felling, said: “It was a big shock to see Miller’s people on the site. We were alarmed by it.
“Some of the grass had been disturbed and it looked like drainage pipes were already on the site. There’s also now a big ‘Miller’ sign up.
“We phoned the council’s planning department to ask why this was happening, as planning permission has not yet been given.
“It said it was unaware of Miller being on the site.
“We believe that Miller should not be on site yet at all and these preliminary works should not be happening.”
Steve McCann, technical director at Miller Homes North East, insisted planning permission was in place – earlier given to Avant – which allowed Miller to push ahead with the approved scheme.
He said he hoped Miller’s plans would be approved on March 9, and a scheme better than Avant’s – with fewer houses and enhanced environmental factors – would soon be in place.
Mr McCann added: “The preparatory works currently progressing on site comprise geotechnical investigation, drainage investigation, fencing and general site set up.
“These activities are permitted under the previously approved scheme – remain unchanged in our new scheme proposal – and are in accordance with the existing S106 Agreement.
“They do not represent the implementation of any work that hasn’t already been granted planning permission.”
Neither South Tyneside College nor South Tyneside Council wished to make a comment.
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