148 Bellway homes plan in Great Lumley refused by Durham Council

Bellway Homes had applied to build 148 homes in Great Lumley as part of a new development which it said would provide “high quality” housing, with 22 designated as ‘affordable’. 

But residents responded in their hundreds to object to the plans due to fears that the outlined site, to the North of George Pit Lane, is not suitable for development. 

“The village doesn’t want it,” local cllr Alan Bell told Durham County Council’s planning committee on Tuesday. “Listen to the locals; if they don’t want it then that carries a lot of weight.” 

A total of 253 objection letters were sent to the council, with local MP Kevan Jones backing the local campaign, compared to just two letters of support.

Great Lumley county cllr Phil Heaviside said there was an initial “social media outrage” when the application was first submitted two years ago and the opposition hasn’t waned. 

Speaking on behalf of 60 households at the meeting, resident Margaret Juniper said: “It will be a substantial and disproportionate addition to the village - a 10 per cent increase in our population - which will result in pressure on our limited facilities in the village. We’re also concerned about the location; it would certainly change the character and rural setting of the village.”

A CGI of how the proposed development could look was submitted as part of the planning process (Image: Bellway)

The meeting heard how Bellway had listened to the feedback received from officers, consultees and the community and amended its scheme accordingly. 

Neil Westwick, representing the developer, told the meeting the application has been reduced from 157 homes to 148 following consultation with the council. “It’s a high-quality scheme, with a varied mix alongside family homes - it includes 22 affordable homes - and 15 bungalows.”

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But his comments failed to convince residents and planning committee members. 

Cllr Bell said the current oversubscription of nearby schools means Great Lumley residents must travel across County Durham for education. “Children have been asked to go to Seaham, Stanley and further afield into the Sunderland boundary. To add such an application and the amount of children into the area will make things a lot worse.” 

Councillors unanimously refused the application.