Alleyway crime fears fail to stop homes plan

Approval has been given for 87 homes to be built despite a councillor claiming residents will be "terrorised" by crime if a new alleyway is opened alongside it.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council supported the plans submitted by Gleeson Regeneration for the development on farmland in Brotton, which would include new pedestrian access to Landsdowne Road.

Local councillor Barry Hunt said: "It will be used by bikes and for anti-social behaviour, delivering drugs. People will be terrorised."

Chris Dodds, representing Gleeson, said the pedestrian route would support access into Brotton and would "narrow in as you get further up", with a barrier to restrict bikes and motorbikes.

Fifteen letters of objection were submitted by residents, with one claiming the access route could "totally ruin" the peace and security of properties nearby, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Skelton and Brotton Parish Council also raised a range of issues including a lack of local facilities, the visual impact and a loss of green space.

But the borough council's planning team said the proposal was "suitably designed" and "would not pose any significant effect upon the character of the wider area".

The authority owns a section of land to the north outside of the development and may remove access in order to control any problem with anti-social behaviour.

The houses will consist of 14 two-bedroom semi-detached, 50 three-bedroom semi-detached and 23 four-bedroom detached properties.

Nine of the homes are classed as affordable.

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