Plans for the development of 156 homes have been refused amid concerns they would ‘destroy’ the County Durham countryside writes Local Democracy Reporter, Bill Edgar.
An application for the new housing estate on land near Westerton Road, Coundon, was unanimously voted down by a Durham County Council planning committee.
Partner Construction’s proposal included a mix of apartments, bungalows and multi-bedroom houses, with 15 per cent of properties marketed as affordable.
But residents raised concerns over highway safety, flooding and infrastructure capacity in the village near Bishop Auckland. A total of 532 objections were submitted throughout the planning process.
Morris Dixon, a Coundon resident, said the Township field is located on a steep, prominent slope visible for miles.
“Building here would destroy its open countryside character and eliminate panoramic views that generations of residents have enjoyed,” he warned.
Locals also noted the site’s historical importance, said to have been in use agriculturally since the 1100s, which may have links to Roman times.
Mr Dixon added: “This is not just any field; this is a rare example of medieval strip farming still being worked today. These strips of land parcels are part of Coundon’s history and identity. Losing them would erase an irreplaceable link to our heritage. This field is the region for our village name, ‘Cow on the Hill’.”
Local county councillor Kate Rowland, of Shildon and Dene Valley ward, told the meeting that the proposal conflicted with several planning policies and would “fundamentally change the open character of the site”.
The application previously proposed 184 homes but was reduced to 156 ahead of consideration by the planning committee on Wednesday.
Alistair Willis, a planning agent speaking on behalf of the applicant, said: “While we consider the proposed development is acceptable in its own right, we recognise the concerns raised by objectors and we have included a series of measures which reinforce the acceptability, weighing significantly in favour of development.
“These include a significant increase in affordable housing. This scheme will greatly assist local people who want to access high-quality housing themselves, by delivering 15 per cent on-site against a policy requirement of only 10 per cent.”
However, committee members supported local pleas to protect the area from development. Liberal Democrat councillor Mark Wilkes said: “Other parts of this area are crying out for development and improvement first. Right now, the landscape harm that we have here is just way too much.”
And after visiting the Township Field site before the meeting, chairwoman Cllr Jillian Campbell said: “I was struck by the site and its unique quality. I can’t see how that can be mitigated, I consider it severe landscape harm.”
South West Durham News covering news across County Durham.
Bill Edgar
Reporter for the Local Democracy Reporter Service.
