Plan approved for 18 self-build plots for homes in Stanley

Councillors agreed outline planning permission for the self-build plots off Gray Terrace, New Kyo, near Stanley.

Details of the homes will be dealt with later as prospective builders come forward, a Durham County Council planning meeting heard.

Senior planning officer Steve France said it was considered a "logical extension to the village".

He said: "There are elements of the site that will be built by the developer.

"But effectively in a plot by plot basis, individuals will come in and tell us what they want to build in a stage, phased element.

"People can come in one by one to show what is proposed there.

"There are conditions to agree further detail on a design brief that will have to be adhered by all individual developers. This will be in the public domain.

"Large areas of the site are proposed left open. That's to achieve the increasing demand for public open space, but more particularly for ecology."

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The plans attracted two letters of objection saying the two and three-storey homes would be out of character and harm residents' quality of life.

Objectors raised concerns about parking, green space, wildlife, privacy, road safety, disturbance, saturation of developments and lack of affordable housing.

Mr France said a phone call since purportedly representing residents claimed they were pleased with changes to the plans, which had been reduced from 23 plots to 18.

He said: "Officers feel that the principle's acceptable. It's sustainable design."

Siobhan McMahon-Walsh, agent for the applicant, said plots opposite terraces were taken away after concerns were raised by residents.

She added such schemes helped communities by encouraging people to stay in the area and develop "their own personal house".

She said: "That often doesn't come along.

"We feel that we have worked with everybody on this to hopefully integrate a low-density development. It's in a good sustainable area."

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Asked whether the scheme was viable, she said people were now moving away from high-density estates.

She said: "It does seem to be a lot more growing market.

"Lenders have now opened up. It's a lot easier for people to secure self-builds. There has been a popularity to it.

"Now with the Government backing a lot more self-builds and people getting more confident to do it, plots are a lot more affordable to people.

"They're a lot lower density, so they're not packed into an estate now. And they get an opportunity to do one-off houses that they rarely get to do. The whole landscape's changed a lot."

Cllr Carl Marshall. Picture: Northern Echo. (Image: Northern Echo, Newsquest)

Stanley Councillor Carl Marshall said: "We haven't got enough new homes for the Stanley area.

"We've got primary schools that are struggling for numbers. We've got healthcare services that are struggling for numbers as well.

"I think there's a lot of people will tell you that they're looking for new homes but there isn't the supply to meet that demand.

"I think this'll be a great scheme. I look forward to seeing how it evolves if it's granted today."

Councillors unanimously approved outline planning permission.

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