Rumours have been circulating at the start of this week that the Home Group have pulled out of their plan to build 200 homes on land at County Hall.

As local residents will know the planning application pursued by the developer was recently “called in” by Conservative Minister Sajid Javid, who has directed that the applications must be the subject of an independent planning inquiry.

The speculation is that the Home Group might be worried that their project is indefensible at an independent inquiry, a view that local residents in Morpeth will no doubt share!

The Council were contacted early Tuesday morning and again at mid day and eventually confirmed that "the Council is aware that the Home Group are considering their position". If they do indeed pull out of their plans then it could blow apart Labour Leader Grant Davey’s plans to move County Hall to Ashington.

Speaking about the rumours Richard Wearmouth, the Conservatives candidate for Kirkhill said, “We are still investigating but if confirmed this would be one of the final nails in the coffin for the County Hall move.

“Grant Davey hung his hat on selling the land from underneath County Hall so that his £80m scheme could not be undone if the Conservatives win the council elections on 4th May.  He was furious when the Government blocked him a few weeks ago and now it seems his plans for the site are in tatters.

“So much hard work has been done to combat this crazy scheme. Now Morpeth residents need to vote Conservative to ensure Labour are kicked out of power in four weeks’ time and the job can be finished.”