A DEVELOPER’S latest bid to build 16 homes in a Teesdale village has been rejected by a planning inspector because of its impact on a historic pub.
Outline planning permission was sought last year for 16 homes in Winston on a field to the west of the Bridgewater Arms.
The applicants wanted to make use of a “disused overgrown field” near the pub on land off the A67.
But residents warned the area is prone to flash-flooding with a risk of raw sewage overflowing onto the playing field. They also claimed the scale of the development was too large.
The Campaign to Protect Rural England also said it would be wrong to build on the greenfield site.
Durham County Council rejected the proposal last October, but the developer, Hendriksen and Forrest, appealed against the decision.
The Planning Inspectorate has now rejected this bid. In his report, inspector Mark Brooker said he had a duty to consider the impact of a proposed development on the significance of a designated heritage asset, adding that “great weight should be given to the asset’s conservation” .
The nearby 19th century Bridgewater Arms is grade II listed and was once the village school.
Mr Brooker said: “While a heritage statement was submitted, Mr Hendriksen has not described the significance of the heritage asset affected or sought to grapple in any meaningful technical detail with the implications of the proposed development on the significance, as required.”
He added: “The proposed development would deliver approximately 16 new homes and while the five-year housing land supply position is at dispute between the parties, I none the less give this public benefit some weight.
“However, it does not overcome the harm that I have identified above.”
