Member Article

Support for Sedgefield development ahead of planning

A forward-thinking development blueprint to deliver new homes and community facilities in Sedgefield, County Durham, will be submitted for planning after receiving support from local residents.

More than 170 people attended a two-day consultation event held by UK investment business, the ESRG Group, to discuss plans for 450 homes and community facilities on two sites off Beacon Lane and Salters Lane.

The majority (62%) of attendees said that they supported the proposals - although a number of issues were raised, including the lack of bungalows and the pressure the development would place on schools and other facilities.

David Evans, director of the ESRG Group, said: “We’re really pleased by the number of people who took the time to attend our public exhibition. There were a number of misconceptions about the scheme prior to the consultation and I’m pleased to say that many warmed to our plans after seeing them first-hand.

“Our proposals have the potential to create future jobs, build quality homes and deliver extra-care for older residents for the town – however, we appreciate that there are some concerns. Having listened to resident feedback, we are now looking to update our proposals ahead of submitting a planning application at the end of May.

“We are exploring many of the issues raised in detail and will look to incorporate a number of high quality bungalows as well as additional facilities for young people into our overall proposal to meet some of the needs outlined by residents at the event.”

Designed with support from award-winning North East practice Gradon Architecture and Newcastle-based Haylock Planning and Design, the proposals put forward by the ESRG Group meet the identified need for more housing and community facilities in the town.

Graham McDarby, design director at Gradon Architecture, said: “The exhibition highlighted to us how open spaces, quality design, affordable housing and health provision are important to local resident’s needs and want they want to see developed in their town for the future.

“We have put in place a carefully designed blueprint that has been sensitively designed to retainSedgefield’s unique community feel – delivering quality facilities and offering a better alternative to a standard housing development, with longer term benefits for villagers.”

The plans for land off Beacon Lane include 218 homes made-up of executive, family and affordable properties within a quality and generous landscaped setting - alongside a bespoke 60 bed retirement complex.

A further 232 homes, including 60 retirement apartments, would also be delivered off Salters Lane. The sale of these homes would help to fund further community facilities for the benefit of the whole town, including new education, health and training facilities, such as a GP or dentist surgery.

And a contemporary new commercial facility accessed from Salters Lane would also provide a unique business hub for nurturing local entrepreneurial talent and delivering specialist skills training.

More than 2,000 households also received a newsletter outlining the plans to the east of the town.

One resident, who attended the event at Sedgefield Racecourse on Monday May 5, said: “I’m in favour of the plans and future development of Sedgefield. I think this is a positive step in creating much needed additional homes in the area, catering for the needs of all from affordable homes to executive homes.

“It is also good to see that with the creation of additional housing there will be much needed new education and health care facilities available for the new and existing community.”

Residents can still submit their views about the development online at www.advantagesedgefield.co.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Gradon Architecture .