County Durham housing schemes set for green light

Almost 600 new homes could be built across County Durham after three separate planning applications, including one that was blocked just five months ago, were recommended for approval ahead of a planning committee meeting tomorrow.The largest scheme to be determined is a resubmission of plans for more than 230 homes, which were blocked by Durham County Council in February 2017. Avant Homes had earmarked land to the north of Woodhouses Farm in Woodhouses for the dwellings.The fresh plans were submitted in May in the form of a hybrid planning application. They request full permission for the construction of 123 properties, along with outline permission for a further 111 homes.The development would be built over two phases if final permission is granted.Story Homes could also get approval to build 161 houses on land to the south of 100 to 106 Dean Road in Ferryhill. The scheme was initially lodged as 141 homes and a food store, but has since been amended.In a report published ahead of the planning meeting, council officers said they recognised that the Story Homes’ development could result in “residual landscape harm” due to its location on greenfield land, but added the “harm would not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the recognised social and economic benefits of new housing”.Both schemes are recommended for approval subject to conditions.The Avant Homes project requires a section 106 agreement to secure affordable homes across both phases, almost £500,000 for off-site highway mitigation work and a £695,389 education contribution. The deal also includes a contribution of £43,168 for off-site habitat creation and a community contribution of £300,000.A total of 10 per cent of Story Homes’ 161-strong project is required to be affordable under the developer’s section 106, while contributions of £213,480, £45,143, £36,200 and £32,968 have been requested to fund open space, highway infrastructure, cycle networks and biodiversity enhancements respectively.Taylor Wimpey’s reserved matters plans for 197 homes in Sedgefield will also go before the committee and were described as planning officers as “acceptable”.Outline proposals for up to 220 homes and detailed plans for a further 80 properties were given the green light on appeal in October 2016.