A leading housing developer has been criticised after it raised the height of a stretch of land in order to deal with a historic flooding problem.
Homeowners on the Taylor Wynd estate in Hepscott Park say the change in the levels of the land to the south east of the development has resulted in a significant loss of privacy in their gardens.
Bellway Homes had submitted a retrospective application for permission to raise the land, which they had done in order to put an end to historic flooding issues at nearby Goosehill Nursery.
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The flooding was overland from the southwest, and made the nursery's garden and car park unusable during periods of heavy rainfall. When Bellway received planning permission to build 89 homes on the site, it was agreed it would take the opportunity to solve the flooding issues.
Bellway submitted the retrospective application having completed much of the work, but a number of neighbours objected to the plans meaning it went before councillors on the Castle Morpeth Local Area Committee on Monday. Speaking at the meeting, Chris Knowles outlined the issues residents had with the project.
She said: "The land has been raised by 1.25 metres along the west side of the estate. It was previously a flat piece of land.
"It means water is now coming off that high level onto our gardens. The other issues with raising that land is that it means my garden fence is 60cm high in effect.
"When people are walking by that area, and it is popular with dog walkers, we have absolutely no privacy and neither do any of the adjacent houses. Also, security is an issue. Someone with ill intent would have much greater access to all the houses."
Planning consultant Hannah Wafer, acting on behalf of the objectors, added that the works had created "significant flooding and drainage issues," and that objectors were concerned the drainage systems in place would "not work effectively".
Emma Moon of Bellway noted that the work to alleviate flooding at the nursery had uncovered further issues, including the discovery that a historic culvert used to drain water was blocked - but insisted that those issues had been resolved.
Councillors voted unanimously to approve the application.
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