A developer has claimed Durham County Council “acted unreasonably” in refusing plans for new retail units at a busy interchange, writes Local Democracy Reporter, Bill Edgar.
The proposal at Thinford Park, County Durham, was part of a planned expansion of the growing site at the intersection of the A167 and A688, which is currently home to drive-through restaurants from Costa and Burger King alongside Domino’s and One Gym.
However, concerned councillors refused the plans for a drive-through restaurant and five retail units due to their potential negative impact on a nearby town centre.
Members of Durham County Council’s planning committee said the ongoing project to improve Spennymoor town centre should be prioritised.
“There are dozens of empty shops in the town centre,” Councillor Mark Wilkes told a committee meeting.
The local authority also ruled that the proposed development would not be located in a “sequentially preferable location” to other suitable sites.
Sequentially preferable sites are those considered to be higher up in the planning hierarchy such as previously developed land (brownfield sites), which is usually preferable to undeveloped (greenfield) land.
Similarly, town centre locations are often preferable to edge-of-centre or out-of-town sites, especially for retail or commercial developments.
No Ordinary Estates, the applicant, said the new units would generate investment and create several new jobs but has questioned the council’s reasoning for the refusal in appeal documents.
The proposal was initially recommended for approval by Durham County Council’s planning department.
Responding to the refusal, the applicant said the proposed development “will not have an unacceptable impact on the vitality and viability of the nearest town centre.”
No Ordinary Estates added: “There are no sequentially preferable sites within Spennymoor.
“On the basis of the evidence available to the committee and the advice given by officers, it is clear that the council acted unreasonably in reaching the conclusion it did.”
The Thinford site has been subjected to long-running planning delays and changes.
Travelodge was expected to open a new hotel before plans fell through several years ago. Part of the building is now set to be used as offices.
A Durham County Council spokesperson said: “We have received notification of the appeal but it would be inappropriate to comment while this process is ongoing.”
A separate application for costs has also been submitted.
Bill Edgar
Reporter for the Local Democracy Reporter Service.
Spennymoor's local community newspaper.
