Plans for 299 homes have been approved after a council warned it needs to build more housing, writes Local Democracy Reporter, Bill Edgar.
Developer Barratt Homes resubmitted a proposal for the expansion of the Whitworth Park estate in Spennymoor after a previous council refusal.
A Durham County Council planning committee voted through the plans after being told the area has an outstanding housing need.
The approval comes despite concerns from residents around the site’s location and the impact on local services. Spennymoor Town Council warned “there is a lack of social infrastructure in the town, such as GPs and dentists, to absorb this substantial development.”
The updated planning application included improved active travel measures, including bus provision, Barratt Homes said. Earlier in the meeting, planning officers warned there is a “crystal clear” need for more housing in County Durham, with an estimated extra 2,000 homes required to be built.
However, Spennymoor county councillor Liz Maddison opposed the latest proposal. The Independent member previously voted against other phases of the housing development because of the impact the excess homes would have on local services.
She told the committee: “I have not seen anything in this new submission that has alleviated my concerns. Spennymoor, including Tudhoe, has a multitude of developments. It has an overcapacity of house building to meet current local needs. It seems clear to me that some of the pressures here are down to the lack of infrastructure, and if this application proceeds, it will cause immense harm to the town.”
Councillor Pete Molloy, an Independent councillor for Spennymoor, also urged committee members to reject the scheme.
But Amy Ward, planning manager at Barratt Homes, said the expansion of the housing estate is “logical and sustainable”, providing the opportunity for more family homes.
She added: “The development of the site for 299 homes will create new investment in the area and increased activity. This will have tangible economic benefits as well as providing extensive open space, play areas and fitness opportunities for the community.”
Work is expected to start on the estate’s expansion in 2026.
Bill Edgar
Reporter for the Local Democracy Reporter Service.
Spennymoor's local community newspaper.
