Amended plans for 55 houses in Coxhoe approved

Plans to build 55 houses in a village near Durham City have been given approval despite concerns about the pressure on local primary school places.Durham County Council’s central and east planning committee approved plans for the new homes on land east of Prospect Place, in Commercial Road East, Coxhoe.The proposal was similar to one already given outline planning permission by the committee last September.Stuart Dunn, chairman of Coxhoe Parish Council, told the committee that the village’s primary school was full and had turned away 10 reception pupils last September.Durham’s School Organisation Manager advised councillors that developers should provide six additional primary school places, which would require a financial contribution of £70,230.Details of the scheme, which would cover around a third of the former limeworks site, have not yet been finalised but developers said it would include 10 bungalows and a mix of two, three or four bedroomed homes.Concerns were also raised about the delivery of affordable housing, which was altered from the previous application.The main change to the new proposal was that 40 per cent of the homes would be delivered as low cost housing, under a scheme designed to help people who want to buy a home but cannot afford a mortgage, instead of as affordable housing.The scheme is run by Prince Bishops Homes and means that tenants can rent for four years before being allowed to share any increase in the value of the property, which can then be put towards a mortgage.