This meeting will include a discussion of planning applications for two developments: a proposed agricultural building near Horsleyhope, Consett and a proposed development of 55 affordable homes in Moorside, Consett.

Construction of an agricultural building near Horsleyhope, Consett

The meeting report pack includes an application for the construction of a steel framed agricultural building on land to the north west of 2, Greenside. The report pack says the applicant, Mr Tom Bravington, wants to use the building to store agricultural equipment and hay and to shelter livestock in extreme weather conditions. It says that Mr Bravington says he needs the building to support his existing farm business, and that the materials chosen will blend seamlessly into the landscape. However, the report pack notes that the application has been called to committee at the request of Muggleswick Parish Council, who are supportive of the application, because the council's planning officers have recommended that the application be refused. It also notes that the council has received letters of both support and objection from the public, in addition to a letter of objection from one of Mr Bravington's neighbours.

The officers' report states that the site is within the North Pennines National Landscape (NPNL) and that while they accept that the proposed building would be suitable for agricultural use, they are concerned that it would be prominent in the landscape and would not be in keeping with the character of the NPNL. The report also notes that whilst the applicant has stated that part of the land is leased for grazing of livestock by other farmers, they have failed to evidence that they are operating a genuine agricultural business on the site.

The report pack also says that the application is supported by a Biodiversity Net Gain statement, which says that a 10% net gain in biodiversity would be achieved through a combination of on and off-site mitigation. However, the report notes that whilst the applicant initially proposed to purchase statutory biodiversity credits to make up for any shortfall in biodiversity gains, they later confirmed that they would not do so, and failed to evidence that a suitable mitigation scheme can achieve the mandatory 10% biodiversity net gain, contrary to Schedule 7A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990¹ and Schedule 14 of the Environment Act 2021². The report concludes that permission should be refused because the applicant has not demonstrated that they are operating an agricultural business on the site, and because it does not conserve or enhance the special qualities of the NPNL. It also says that the applicant has failed to demonstrate how the biodiversity gain would be achieved.

Construction of 55 affordable homes in Moorside, Consett

The meeting report pack also includes an application to build 55 affordable homes on land to the rear of Consett Park Terrace. The report pack notes that this is a resubmission of an application that was previously refused by the committee for the construction of 84 affordable homes on the same site, because the committee considered the proposals to be too large and out of character with the area. The report pack says that the applicant, Adderstone Living Ltd, has submitted a revised scheme with fewer homes and has made changes to the layout and design. It says that the applicant says the development will help to meet local housing need and will be a high quality scheme of sustainable dwellings.

The report says that the applicant has submitted a Housing Needs Survey which has identified a local need for affordable housing in Moorside and that the council's Housing Development Officers have confirmed that the information submitted by the applicant is robust and have offered no objection to the development. It also says that the development will be 100% affordable and will provide both affordable rent and shared ownership units.

The report acknowledges that the site is in an Area of Higher Landscape Value (AHLV) and that the development would be visible from the nearby Grade II* listed Hownsgill Viaduct, which carries the Sea to Sea (C2C) cycle route. However, it says that the development has been designed to minimise its impact on the landscape and that the benefits of the scheme outweigh the harms. It also notes that the applicant has submitted a Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment, which shows that the proposed planting would eventually help to screen the development from view. The report concludes that, subject to a number of conditions, the application should be approved.