A PLANNING application for a residential development of up to 46 dwellings with new access from Cadger Bank, Lanchester, has been submitted to Durham County Council.

According to the design and access statement, the total site area comprises 3.6 hectares of land adjoining the western edge of Lanchester.

The site is located on the south-western edge of Lanchester, on the north-west side of the B6296. It consists of one pastoral field bounded by a stone wall and trees to the south-east, a stone wall, fence and private gardens in Briardene and Cadger Bank to the north east, by pasture, a fence, mature trees and private gardens in Fox Hills Crescent to the north-west and by a hedgerow and occasional trees to the south-west.

Arguably the most sensitive aspect of the proposal site is its proximity to the remains of the Roman fort to the south. The proposed site sits within the visual field of this historic asset and the vestiges of built elements including road and wall structures appear to be present in the immediate area including parts of the proposal site.

There are established hedgerows to the western boundary which are significant assets. The trees within the site, in particular the mature ash and sycamores, are also significant ecological features potentially supporting other species on the site including breeding birds and bats.

The dry stone walls are a locally distinctive and valuable habitat that potentially supports breeding birds and reptiles e.g. common lizard, as well as mosses and lichens.

A Planning Inspector highlighted the ‘remote’ nature of the Fort and how it is important that it remains distinct from Lanchester as a separate settlement with the Fort effectively commanding the high ground.

His issue of sufficient separation is a key one and is clearly a qualitative and as well as quantitative measure. Given that the fort is now reduced to little more than ground level, views from Fort are almost at natural ground level.

The challenge then is to create both a suitable quantitative distance from the Roman Fort but also to take great care to make the transition at those parts that can be seen less sharp than a traditional urban development.

The type and form of homes, road structure and surfacing, landscape and boundary treatments all work together to make this potentially a positive contribution to the long-term success of Lanchester.

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