PROPOSALS have been unveiled for hundreds more homes in Startforth.
Cheshire-based Gladman Developments has begun a public consultation process in advance of an expected planning application for about 210 houses on a large site next to Startforth Park. The homes would be in addition to the 162 currently being built by Kier Homes on land next to Deerbolt Young Offenders’ Institution and the 64-home new estate recently completed on the other side of Startforth Park.
The company says 20 per cent of the new homes will be classed as affordable, the entrance would be from Bowes Road and the scheme would also include a new children’s play area. The developer says the houses will be a mix of detached, semi-detached and terraced properties.
However, no other facilities are proposed for the village.
Gladman’s consultation states: “There are a number of facilities within a ten to 20-minute walk of the site.
“Barnard Castle, which includes the area of Startforth, contains a range of local services and employment uses, including a number of shops, restaurants, public houses, an arts centre, a pharmacy, banks and a supermarket.”
The developer also states it intends to submit an outline planning application. It adds: “In total, 33 per cent of the area will be public open space.”
Startforth Parish Council chairman Cllr Pat Estall said the proposal would need careful consideration. The parish council was due to meet last week to discuss the scheme.
“Who is going to fill these houses? Where are they going to come from? Where are the jobs to support them,” he queried.
“Startforth has got nothing in it to promote any kind of business.”
Barnard Castle mayor Cllr Sandra Moorhouse described the prospect of hundreds more homes on the town’s doorstep as “just mind blowing, really” .
Like Cllr Estall, she asked where people would come from to fill the properties.
“We are not really commuter belt, are we?” she said.
“I also thought that with the new County Plan coming out they [Durham County Council’ were not serious about getting more houses in the area.”
She also raised concerns about the increased pressure on services in the town, such as the GP surgery.
“There will be such an increase in pressure on every single thing. The town is not built for all this.
“The whole town boundary is going to be dominated by new houses all round it.”
A website has been set up by Gladman Developments to outline its plans and seek feedback from those living in and around the area.
Go to www.your-
views.co.uk/startforth for more details.
