Plans to build an housing estate for Orthodox Jews on the site of a former bus depot in Gateshead have been approved by the local authority.

The north-eastern town’s Jewish Community Council was given permission to build 26 family homes. The designs were unanimously approved by Gateshead Council’s planning committee.

The site has been vacant since the bus depot was demolished in 2014, and has been affected by historic mining activities, contamination and underground Metro infrastructure.

Objectors to the plans told the council the homes should be open to all people, but the High Court has previously said such schemes do not breach equality laws because Orthodox Jews have different needs that require them to live close to one another.

The designs for the new development in Gateshead include “inter-connected kitchen” and living spaces with study facilities, to better accommodate the needs of the Orthodox families who will be living there.