Plans are being drafted for revised housing proposals which will help safeguard land around Locomotion – The National Railway Museum at Shildon.
Locomotion opened in October 2004 and is run as a partnership between the National Railway Museum and Durham County Council.
Samantha Marlow of Theakston Estates, the company which will submit the plans said, “Visitor numbers are growing year on year and to build upon its success the museum has aspirations to extend its grounds as it begins to consider the future scope of its museum offer.”
Theakston already has permission for 310 new homes at the site which includes land that would now be safeguarded for the museum. A new application will be submitted excluding this land and seeking permission for 350 new homes to both the south and east of the museum.
Mrs Marlow added: “A new proposal is in the process of being drawn up that would provide land for any future expansion of the Railway Museum and deliver family housing.
“A planning application for the housing will be submitted to Durham County Council by Theakston Estates Limited in the next month.”
Shildon Town Council stated:
“We welcomed the presentation from Theakston Estates and we look forward to reviewing the plans when submitted.”
The planning application is being handled by the Newcastle office of national planning and development consultancy Lichfields.
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
