Former footballer Paul Bracewell is celebrating after finally winning a long-running planning dispute to build houses on his land, writes Local Democracy Reporter, Bill Edgar.
Durham County Council’s decision to approve plans for two properties at Fernhill, off Newcastle Road in Durham, puts an end to a planning battle that has spanned around 22 years and involved intense scrutiny over the impact on the green belt.
The former England, Newcastle and Sunderland midfielder’s latest proposal included plans to demolish a stable block, extend a conservatory and build garages in the property’s extensive grounds in the Crossgate Moor area of the city.
But it faced significant opposition from local politicians who warned that it would cause “substantial harm” to the green belt and urged members to “protect the unique character of Durham for its residents”.
Councillor Elizabeth Scott, Liberal Democrat member for Neville’s Cross, told the committee: “Once that openness is lost, it cannot be recovered. Once these houses are built, the character of this place will be changed permanently.”
However, the local authority’s planning officers ruled that the development is “not inappropriate” and would not cause unacceptable harm to the character, quality or distinctiveness of the landscape.
Several planning applications and appeals have been submitted for the site over the years, but local concerns persisted, including from the City of Durham Parish Council, which also objected to the latest application.
Jonathan Elmer, county councillor for Brandon, said: “I’m worried that if this were to be approved, then we could see a spree of applications coming in and we would set a precedent through this approach. Due to governmental changes to the rules, green belts are already under considerable threat.
“It’s so important for the city of Durham that we secure and conserve our green belt because it’s what gives the city its heritage and what our economy is largely based on.”
Yet, Mr Bracewell continued to insist the plans were appropriate despite the property being “erroneously” added to the green belt in 2004.
He said: “The proposal has been carefully designed to ensure that openness is preserved. The scheme has been reduced significantly through discussions with officers, from an earlier concept of four dwellings down to just two bespoke plots.
“The layout has been led by landscape constraints, mature tree retention and the natural topography of the site. The result is a low-density form of development that sits comfortably within the site without extending built development into the wider countryside.
“This is therefore not speculative or sprawling development in the green belt. It is a modest and carefully considered proposal on previously developed land, within an existing residential setting, which accords with both national and local planning policy.”
Planning committee members approved the application by four votes to three, with one abstention.
Bill Edgar
Reporter for the Local Democracy Reporter Service.
South West Durham News covering news across County Durham.
