Fears that Pelton football upgrades could be affected by 100 new homes

Housing provider Karbon Homes wants to build 104 new homes, described as 100 per cent affordable, including bungalows and apartments at the site of the former Roseberry College, Pelton. 

An apartment block, two and a half storeys high, is proposed for the County Durham site and will be enhanced by new public spaces and footpaths.

But locals are concerned an ongoing consultation by Durham County Council into the future of sports facilities at Roseberry Playing Fields could be jeopardised if the housing development is approved. 

Pelton councillor Alison Batey fears planning controls would prevent any future expansion of the 5G football pitches and changing facilities on the same site. 

Housing provider Karbon Homes wants to build 104 new homes, described as 100 per cent affordable, (Image: The Northern Echo)

“If it is approved the fear is that somebody will say we can’t develop the site out further because the access won’t be suitable and it’s going to go through the proposed housing development,” Cllr Batey said. 

“The council have got their consultation the complete wrong way round. I can’t get my head round how we can allow this planning application to be heard when we’re in the middle of a live consultation. 

“If they allow it to go ahead it makes a complete mockery of a live consultation.”

The facilities are currently used by Hilda Park Football Club but there is the hope of building up to five more pitches to provide a training centre for more clubs. 

Cllr Batey has called on council planning officers to recommend moving the access road for the housing to prevent the football facilities becoming landlocked. The national body Sport England agrees, and says although the proposed development does not lead to the loss of playing field the potential housing would prejudice their use. 

But Karbon Homes says noise and light pollution assessments have been conducted and proposes upgrading the floodlights. 

And despite local concerns the council’s planning officers say the consultation will not be affected by the housing development’s committee hearing. 

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The future of Roseberry Playing Fields is part of a county council consultation (Image: The Northern Echo)

Michael Kelleher, Durham County Council’s head of planning and housing, said: “The proposed development of the former school site for new homes is on land allocated for housing within the existing County Durham Plan, adopted in 2020. The site does not impact upon the consultation for Roseberry playing field. The application to be put before planning committee to consider a proposal for new homes has been designed to consider any potential future leisure expansion, including access to the existing site.

“It is important that we consider the wider mix of facilities across our outdoor sports sites in the town. We would encourage residents and users to continue to share their views on our updated plans.”

The proposal is due to be heard at a planning meeting on Thursday.