An outline application to develop a greenfield site next to the Highcliffe housing estate, in Spittal, has been made by Glenrothes-based Lomond Homes.

It has teamed up with landowner Michael Tweedie, from East Learmouth, near Cornhill, and the Three Rivers Housing Association to put together the proposal, which includes provision for 45 affordable homes.

Estate agent Michael Aitchison, who would market the properties, said: "This sort of development is badly needed in Berwick and this site is ideal.

"It is close to lots of Tweedmouth's amenities such as supermarkets, schools, the sports centre, retail park and the trading estate, and as well as that it has good access and is on bus routes."

The 27-acre site lies between Berwick High School's playing pitches and Cow Road, with Highcliffe bordering to the west and the A1167 to the east.

The outline application proposes a mixture of bungalows, semi-detached, terraced and villa-style properties but the exact make-up would be determined at the full planning stage.

Mr Aitchison added: "There has been a big demand for housing lately in the price bracket from £120,0000 to £170,000 because that is the market that is not being catered for.

"Since John Gray stopped building homes in the town some 15 or 20 years ago there has not really been any affordable housing built in Berwick.

"We got involved because we believe we could sell 30-50 houses a year on that site, particularly given the shortfall of smaller two and three bedroom houses," he added.

Three Rivers Housing Association, having recognised the shortage of affordable homes, has been looking for potential development sites since the Large Scale Voluntary Transfer of the council's housing stock was completed last year.

David Brown, head of development and regeneration at Four Housing Group, said: "Four Housing Group, the parent company of Three Rivers Housing Association and Berwick Borough Housing, is working closely with Lomond Land to assist and enable the delivery of new affordable homes in an area where there is high demand."

If approved, it is planned to develop the site in two main phases.
The first would comprise 98 dwellings on the northern section, starting with 40 affordable homes which would be delivered within two years.

Phase two, on the southern section, would comprise 52 dwellings including five affordable units but could be up to five years down the line.

The homes would be accessed through an existing but upgraded gateway from the A1167 and a through road would be built to connect with the Highcliffe estate.

There would also be emergency vehicle access to the site from Cow Road.
The site lies within an area once occupied by the Springhill Roman Camp, a designated ancient scheduled monument, but an archaeological dig carried out last month has not uncovered anything of note.

Developers say tree planting already carried out on the southern edge of the site would eventually obscure views of the development from Scremerston. The high point of the site would be left open to reduce the visual impact of the scheme from Berwick town centre and the Elizabethan Walls.

The Highcliffe scheme is the third major housing development for Berwick currently being considered by Northumberland County Council.
Plans have already been submitted by Hudson Homes for between 250 and 300 new homes at West Hope between Castle Terrace and the bypass, while Royal Carlton Estates, fronted by Berwick businessman William Leith, wants to build 136 new homes along with commercial and cafe floorspace at Spittal Point.