Ushaw Moor flats approved despite objections from residents

Renovat8 Homes and Property Management applied to build the 16 apartments near Rosewood Walk in Ushaw Moor.

The two blocks will contain eight flats each - 12 two-bedroom, four one-bedroom.

The plan drew 22 letters of objection with concerns including parking, road safety, access, congestion, loss of privacy, design, impact to residents during construction, blocking views of the Deerness valley and lack of facilities to support more residents.

Read more: Durham children's home approved despite community objections

Councillor Marion Wilson expressed High View residents' concerns about adding to a difficult, dangerous and overcrowded parking situation, with "several accidents with cars and pedestrians" in the area.

Cllr Jonathan Elmer congratulated the developer on going "above and beyond" on energy efficiency, including solar panels, water harvesting and cycle parking.

But he said Durham County Council's planning committee should not rule out parking problems.

Cllr Jonathan Elmer. Picture: Paul Norris.

He said: "We could get 10 to 15 extra vehicles displaced. It already is very tight in certain locations and congested.

"That's going to cause conflict with residents. 

"When this sort of situation occurs it causes a lot of stress, anxiety, arguments in the street."

Cllr David Brown said: "I can see no objection to this development which is going to tidy up this very untidy site with plastic tyres, timber and all sorts thrown in there."

Cllr David Brown. Picture: Durham County Council.

The City of Durham Trust objected, saying the plan was against policy and raising issues like poor ventilation, separation distances and sustainability.

Council departments had no objections. Education officers and the local NHS Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) said there was enough space and facilities for the flats' future residents and pupils.

One letter in support said the proposal would provide modern housing and bring an unsightly site back into use.

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Glenn McGill, agent for the developer, said: "It's an opportunity to tidy up a derelict green space.

"We understand there’s a parking problem, but this is for flats, and flats don’t generate as many car parking or highway movements.

"It’s a good scheme. It’s well designed. It will deliver much-needed housing at a time when there’s still severe housing shortages."

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Senior planning officer Leigh Dalby said of the parking issues: "Cars are using the site at present to park in an  illegal manner on land that is not theirs.

"That could be taken away from them tomorrow and local residents would have to find parking elsewhere."

He said the plan did not meet some privacy distances, but officers did not believe it would significantly harm privacy or overlook other people's properties directly.

They deemed the scheme acceptable, recommended approving the scheme, which councillors passed unanimously.

Conditions of approval include an agreement for the developer to contribute to affordable housing and £27,825 to open space.

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