Starbucks and four shops approved on Woodland Avenue in Colburn

The proposals for Woodland Avenue in Colburn have faced years of scrutiny from the public and parish councils - but were passed by the Richmond (Yorks) Area Planning Committee on Thursday (September 12).

The site looking from Woodland Avenue (Image: PLANNING)

The new development will include car parking, four shops, and the Starbucks, as well as outline permission for a place of worship, and a housing development featuring eight properties.

This approval comes after two previous applications for the land were rejected over highway safety and the impact it will have on neighbours. 

The overall site plan for the application (Image: PLANNING)

Despite the site getting outline approval in 2010, several previous attempts to try and resurrect the development on the wasteland have fallen short.

According to the owner of the land, David Elles, the development would provide a "sustainable site" that "makes the most" of the land that is currently disused, as well as meeting a housing need for the area. 

A CGI mock-up of how the site could look (Image: PLANNING)

According to the owner of the land, David Elles, the development would provide a "sustainable site" that "makes the most" of the land that is currently disused, as well as meeting a housing need for the area. 

However, concerns from the public and parish councils over the safety of the A6136 in Colburn were big points of contention for those who opposed the plans.

During a consultation for members of the public, 45 supporters and ten objectors lodged letters.

One of the people who put in concerns about the traffic on the A-road was Angie Dale, from Colburn Town Council, who said granting this application would 'gridlock' the road.

In a speech at the meeting, Cllr Dale said: "We were initially sold a lovely market square with little shops - but we are disappointed that this hasn't happened.

Most read:

• County Durham takeaway heavily fined in court over health and safety failings
• Cheapest home in Bishop Auckland up for sale for £48,000 - look inside
• Fundraiser started by man who died running Great North Run hits £21k

Subscribe to The Northern Echo now for just £3 for 3 months or 30% off an annual subscription.

"Traffic is a big factor - there are five-way lights that would mean traffic would be at a standstill".

Other councillors also had issues with traffic management, including Councillor Kevin Foster, who covers the Hipswell and Colburn division, who wasn't at the meeting but submitted a statement that noted his concerns about the A6136 in Colburn and called for a deferment. 

But other councillors at the meeting backed the plans after hearing from James Ryan from the Highways department, who said the impact on the A6136 would be "minimal".

The application was voted through unanimously by the Richmond planning committee.