Member Article

D-Day for 175-home Keepmoat development

A decision on a long-awaited 175-home development in County Durham is due this week.

Developers are hoping to complete the last phase of the Cobblers Hall housing development in Newton Aycliffe after submitting renewed plans to Durham County Council.

The plans, initially for 182 homes, were originally submitted in January 2012 but delays led to them being withdrawn.

Keepmoat Homes’ application to build two, three and four bedroom properties on the last plot of undeveloped land along Cobblers Hall Road, known as Site O, will be discussed at Durham County Council’s area planning committee meeting on Thursday (September 19).

“The residential units on the application site comprise a mixture of two, three and four-bedroom properties arranged through a mixture of terraced, townhouses, semi-detached and detached properties,” said a planning report.

“In this respect the size, type, scale and character of the proposed properties is similar to those in the surrounding areas and will contribute to the creation of sustainable communities.

“The layout of the proposed development includes a strong frontage onto Cobblers Hall Road, on the northern elevation of the application site with two points of vehicular access taken from the northern site boundary, on Cobblers Hall Road.

“The dwellings at both entrances have been set out to provide gateway features into the site with dual frontage units and landscaping forming the threshold into the development.”

The proposed development will include 10 per cent of the properties to be fitted with a source of sustainable passive energy, which is likely to comprise roof-mounted solar panels.

The application says Newton Aycliffe has been the focus for extensive residential growth within County Durham since its original designation as a New Town in 1947.

In 2000, the town’s population was in the order of 27,000 persons and continued to be the focus for significant residential growth.

“The Cobblers Hall area has been the primary focus for residential growth within the town since the site was originally allocated and subject to a Development Brief in 1992,” says the report.

“The Cobblers Hall area is now approaching completion, with Site O representing the final phase, and will provide a total of circa 800 residential dwellings once completed.”

The scheme is recommended for approval.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Martin Walker .