88 new homes to be built in Station Town after County Durham approval

An outline planning application for the new homes in Station Town, near Wingate, has been given the green light after being backed by councillors on the council’s planning committee. 

Planning approval was granted for a similar scheme in 2019 but that has since lapsed, with the applicant instead submitting an updated proposal last year. It is believed progress on the previous application was delayed by financial difficulties during the Covid pandemic.  

As the proposal is in the form of an outline application, no details of housing types have been provided yet, but it is likely to form a mix of detached, semi-detached and terraced houses, with 15 bungalows expected to be built within the new development. Meanwhile, 10 per cent of the new homes will be ‘affordable’ to prospective buyers. 

However, six public objections to the proposal were received, as locals complained about the impact the new development would have on the countryside. 

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One resident said: “I worry greatly about the added volume of traffic this would cause and to the effect of wildlife situated in the area, to an already busy small village. My second concern is as to where any more children would attend the already overcrowded schools that are in the village at present. 

“As there are already proposed builds ongoing in Wingate I fear greatly for the loss of our small community feel with excessive traffic having to travel throughout the village.”

Yet Durham County Council planning officers recommended the proposal was approved, with ​​£130,292.80 to be invested in the wider Blackhalls ward area.