Couple apply for permission to build home on green site

John and Doreen Hull have applied for permission to build the house on land they own at High Street, Bishop Middleham.

But planners from Sedgefield Borough Council have recommended the proposal is refused. They said as the site is outside the settlement boundary, it is considered as countryside and would create a precedent of building on green land.

Panel members have voted to have a site visit.

The couple said the site was previously developed, but a bungalow was demolished and they have maintained the land ever since.

Planning officers said the remains of that house, which collapsed in the late 1970s, have blended into the landscape and the site must be considered as greenfield land.

A former club outside the village boundary was converted into flats recently, but planners said that is a different case because the building was still standing. That matter was referred to the Secretary of State, who offered no objections.

At a recent planning meeting, Mr and Mrs Hull addressed members to put their case for the development.

Mrs Hull said: "We feel very strongly about this. We could have left the land derelict and there wouldn't have been a problem, but we've made a big error by clearing the land and making it attractive.

"We were never notified the land had been taken out of the building line, otherwise we would have objected.

"We've lived in this village since 1976 and we're proud to live there. We would love to build a nice property on that piece of land because we haven't got the strength to keep maintaining it."

Mr Hull said: "I think the sensible thing would be to have a site visit to see exactly what's there - not the land itself, but what's around the land to have a genuine feel for it. There's a fence around it, it's on the main road, its address is High Street, it's part of our village and it has been empty for too long."

The visit will take place on Monday, September 8.