Permission has been granted to remove two protected trees so a construction road entrance can be built on the former HMS Ganges site.

Following a visit by a Babergh tree expert, it was agreed to two pine trees could be taken down to allow room for a bell mouth junction off the main Shotley road onto the site.

The entrance from the B1456 will mean construction traffic will no longer use the narrow Caledonian Road entrance to Ganges, through the ceremonial gates to get onto the site.

Now permission has been granted for work to start on the junction, joint developers Galliard and Wavenmere, plan to start ground work within the next 10 days by putting in a road and hard standing area for plant and machinery.

The loss of the two trees, which had to be removed as their roots would have been damaged by the bellmouth work, will be mitigated by the large scale tree and hedge planting within the 285 house development.

Homes are already being sold off plan for the first phase through Connells, and interested parties can register their interest here.

Nub News revealed last year how a new joint venture was taking the development into the first phase and what that mean to the iconic Ganges mast being restored.Full story here.