The County Planning Committee of Durham County Council met on Wednesday 8 July 2026 to discuss several planning applications. The committee considered an application for the removal of a highway improvement condition for a housing development in Iveston, a proposal for a solar park near Seaham, and an application for a battery energy storage system near South Hetton.

Battery Energy Storage System near South Hetton - Decision Deferred

The committee deferred a decision on an application for a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on land east of Carrs Farm, South Hetton. While the principle of the development was supported due to its contribution to renewable energy targets, councillors raised significant concerns regarding fire safety, potential pollution from firewater runoff, and the adequacy of the proposed bunding and containment measures. Councillor Robert Potts proposed deferral to allow for further information on these critical safety aspects to be provided. Councillor Steven Franklin seconded the motion, also citing concerns about the notification period for residents wishing to speak. Councillor Mark Wilkes expressed reservations about deferral due to potential changes in planning laws that might remove the application from committee consideration. Ultimately, the committee voted to defer the decision.

Solar Park near Seaham Refused

A proposal for a solar park on land east of Stockton Road, Seaham, was refused by the committee. The primary reasons for refusal were the unacceptable harm to the character and visual amenity of the landscape, including the setting of the Heritage Coast, and the negative impact on residential amenity due to visual intrusion. The committee also determined that the development constituted inappropriate development in the Green Belt, and that very special circumstances had not been demonstrated to outweigh the significant harm.

Removal of Highway Condition for Iveston Housing Development Approved

The committee approved an application to remove condition 10 from a previous planning permission for a housing development at land to the north-east of Explorer House, Iveston Lane. This condition had required off-site highway improvements at the Delves Lane/Gloucester Road roundabout. The Highways Authority confirmed that updated traffic assessments indicated the roundabout would operate within acceptable capacity thresholds without these improvements, and therefore their removal was deemed acceptable.