Initial plans outlining nine new homes in a County Durham town have been approved by Durham County Council.

The development, put forward by Richard Anderson for Rodridge Farm, Station Town, Wingate, will see the construction of up to nine residential homes on 0.44 hectares of land.

The site previously served as a warehouse, office, and showroom, but is currently unused.

As part of the approval, several conditions must be met before and during construction.

These include a land contamination assessment, submission of drainage plans, and a construction management plan.

The construction management plan needs to cover areas like dust suppression, noise reduction, traffic routing, and site access.

Tree protection plans, highway infrastructure, and visibility splays for safe site access are also part of the pre-commencement conditions.

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Development must begin within two years of the approval of the reserved matters, which need to be submitted within three years of this initial approval.

Post-commencement, conditions like landscaping, greenhouse gas emission reduction measures, and tree protection during construction are mandated.

Electric vehicle charging points and broadband infrastructure must be installed before occupancy.

The westbound bus stop near the development will also need to be relocated as part of the access planning.

Specific layout, access, and final design of the development will be determined in future detailed planning applications but must align with the overall approved concept and relevant policies of the County Durham Plan.

The council's committee report typically discusses the proposal's merits, including its environmental impact, the effect on local infrastructure, and the benefits to the community.

These include addressing local housing needs, improving the visual appearance of the area, and potential employment during construction.

The site is not at risk of flooding, and surface water will be disposed of via the main sewer system.

The proposal will result in a net gain of nine residential units, contributing to housing needs in the area.

A public comment from Robert Lowery expressed strong support for the proposal, praising the provision of high-quality housing and the use of a previously developed site, avoiding the need to build on greenfield land.