MAJOR housing developments lined up in Teesdale as well as discussions about a retail scheme near Barnard Castle have been disclosed.
A freedom of information request has revealed all pre-planning talks held in County Durham from June last year to the end of January.
They include discussions about a retail venture at the former Addisons Auction House site, which closed in 2015, off the A688.
It has been revealed that initial talks were held on January 11 over a 0.82 acre “retail scheme” – about two-thirds the size of a football field.
The nature of the potential scheme has not been disclosed and a formal planning application has not been submitted.
It comes several years after the farmers’ auction mart, in Vere Road, was involved in unsuccessful discussions about building a supermarket on its site.
Early discussions have also taken place about building 27 homes and a retail unit at Stainton Quarry and a 250-home plan in West Auckland.
The scheme at West Auckland for 250 homes off Ullswater Avenue was discussed in November, while the 27 houses on land at Stainton Quarry were talked over in June last year. Elsewhere, talks were held in November over a potential estate of 48 homes south of Sudburn Avenue, in Staindrop – it would be one of the biggest developments the village has ever seen.
The data release was triggered by Whorlton’s David Kinch. He has campaigned for information to be revealed to the public about discussions would-be applicants have with Durham County Council before official applications are made. The discussions, which can cost thousands of pounds for the applicant, may come to nothing but can often advise would-be developers of the requirements needed to achieve a thumbs up from planners.
Among the 1,748 pre-application discussions held across County Durham in the period, were talks over the fate of the now defunct £600,000 children’s services centre on Galgate, in Barnard Castle, held in August last year.
Seven dwellings on land off Ford Dike Lane, near Hollin Hall, Gainford, were discussed with county staff in the same month. Discussions over converting the Oak Tree Inn, in Hutton Magna, from a restaurant into a home were held on December 4. Changing the former St Mary’s Church, in Rokeby, to an art studio was mulled over in July.
And new layout options for two car parks at GlaxoSmith
Kline, off Harmire Road, were discussed the same month.
In Cotherstone, talks were held about eight houses being built on land south of the Sycamores Moor Road in late November. In Mickleton, there were discussions in June over holiday let cottages and chalets near the riverbank, east of Yarker Lane.
Mr Kinch, a parish councillor and former chairman of Teesdale Action Partnership, has argued these “pre-app” discussions are unfair – giving those applying more time to tailor their plans while residents have a limited time window to have their say.
He has also pointed to a “conflict of interest” between the same planning officers who offer the “pre-app” advice and then preside over planning decisions once an application is submitted.
Council officers advise “what will be required from a customer to ensure that a planning application is determined favourably” .
County councillor Richard Bell made it clear that elected members were not advised of any pre-app discussions.
He added: “I have had a couple of complaints from applicants where the pre-app has given the green light then Durham County Council says ‘no’ to the full application.
“In the interests of transparency I think parish councils and county councillors should be told when the pre-app letter that gives their opinion is sent out by the county council.”
Other pre-application advice includes:
l Proposed replacement of stables into new chalets at New House Farm, Ingleton – July 2017.
l Expansion and renovation of Winston Bridge Riverside Retreat and widening entrance in October 2017.
l Development of sewage works at Low Lands in July 2017.
l Cafe 1618, Middleton-in-Teesdale, change of use to residential by dividing into three separate properties with two new build cottages to the rear – October 2017.
l Burn Holme Farm, Whorlton, off Westwick Road, converting barns into car repair workshop, showroom and office – November 2017.
l Auckland Caravans, in West Auckland, erection of 12 units and one for relocation of existing cafe in November 2017.
l Installation of telecommunications equipment on road verge to the east of Winston – December 2017.
l The Old Rectory, Bowes, eight holiday lodges – January 2018.
l Raff Yard House, Raby Park, Staindrop, change of use from redundant residential home to hunting lodge – January 2018.
l A small “hydro scheme” at Pundergill, Rutherford Lane, Bowes – January 2018.
Stuart Timmiss, Durham County Council’s head of planning and assets, said: “We follow government best practice by offering a pre-application advice service to anyone wishing to get our views on development proposals.
“Offering this advice serves a number of purposes, not least identifying at an early stage when it’s felt development is inappropriate and therefore saving a significant amount of time and effort at the taxpayer’s expense. It also clarifies issues that need to be addressed and so can serve to help support the process of bringing forward much needed development and jobs by providing a level of confidence sometimes required to enable investors to take the next steps.
“However, pre-application advice is given in the full knowledge that differing views and issues may be expressed during consultation that must be taken into account.
“It is also not unknown for developers to ignore pre-application advice and submit schemes which do not have the support of planners.
“Not only is the pre-application process legislated by Parliament, but it is also standard practise at all councils in England.”
![A COUNTY councillor is backing a campaign to get a pedestrian crossing in Staindrop. Frustrated parish councillors in the village summoned their county council representative Cllr George Richardson to their latest meeting to discuss several issues, including the call for a safe way to cross the A688. Earlier this year their request for a crossing was turned down by the county council’s highways officers. Parish council chairman Jonothan Raper described the reasons for the refusal as “spurious” and called on Cllr Richardson to support their campaign. He added: “One of the arguments they made was there is no clear line of desire when they studied the village – well this isn’t a clear line of desire because there isn’t a crossing, people cross whenever they can. “When the lollipop person was there, one of the things I noticed was people would walk all the way down to the lollipop person to cross the road to go to the shop or to go to the school.” He added a problem of parking at the primary school is exacerbated because people are too afraid to walk their children across the road. Cllr Richardson said he had supported previous attempts for a crossing point with the first being made about 15 years ago. He added: “We went fairly well down the road with that and they looked into it. The only recommended place was where the bus stop is and to get the visibility splays, people on the other side of the road would lose their parking. “That didn’t go down well so it just died a death.” Cllr Raper said he suspected the real reason for the officers’ refusal was the cost of installing a crossing. He added that much of the cost could be recovered from savings made on not having to employ a lollipop patrol. Cllr Raper said: “A lollipop person only provides a benefit of crossing for three hours of the day. You are getting 21 extra hours of crossing time [with a pedestrian crossing].” Cllr Richardson said he would raise the issue with the county council’s cabinet member for highways, Cllr John Shuttleworth.](https://teesdalemercury.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/georgeR-120x86.jpg)
