The County Planning Committee was scheduled to discuss five applications for development across County Durham. These included proposals for new housing developments in Brandon, Ushaw Moor, and Spennymoor, as well as a new retail development in Bishop Auckland and an underground cable to connect a solar farm to the GSK factory in Barnard Castle.

Applications to be Determined

Land At Red Barns, Brandon, Durham, DH7 8DA

The committee was scheduled to consider a hybrid planning application for the construction of up to 400 dwellings at Land At Red Barns, Brandon. This application sought full planning permission for 140 dwellings, primary site access, and associated Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) and landscaping. It also sought outline planning permission for up to 260 further dwellings, a local centre with retail units (Use Class E), and a mini-mobility hub, with all matters reserved for future consideration. The proposal included a mix of dwelling types, including bungalows, and a commitment to providing affordable housing. Discussions were expected to cover the principle of development on unallocated land, locational sustainability, housing mix, affordable housing provision, design, landscape and visual impact, trees and hedgerows, residential amenity, highway safety, public rights of way, ecology, surface water and foul drainage, heritage and archaeology, contaminated land and coal mining risk, energy efficiency, agricultural land, planning contributions, and the cumulative impact of development.

Land To The South Of Cockhouse Lane, Ushaw Moor, DH7 7PN

A proposal for the erection of 158 homes with associated landscaping and infrastructure at Land To The South Of Cockhouse Lane, Ushaw Moor, was scheduled for discussion. The application detailed a mix of dwelling types, including bungalows, and proposed affordable housing provision. Key considerations for this application were expected to include the principle of development in the countryside, landscape and visual impact, type and mix of housing, housing need, planning contributions, layout and design, trees and hedgerows, residential amenity, highway safety, ecology, surface water and foul drainage, heritage and archaeology, contaminated land and coal mining risk, energy efficiency, agricultural land, soil resource, and the safeguarding of mineral resources.

Whitworth Park Phase 6, Spennymoor, DL16 7RQ

The committee was scheduled to discuss the construction of 299 dwellings with access from Allerton Way and associated parking, roads, infrastructure, landscaping, and SuDS at Whitworth Park Phase 6, Spennymoor. This application was a resubmission of a previous application that had been refused. The proposal included a significant number of bungalows and affordable housing units. Discussions were expected to focus on the principle of development on unallocated land, locational sustainability, housing mix, affordable housing provision, design, landscape and visual impact, trees and hedgerows, residential amenity, highway safety, ecology, surface water and foul drainage, heritage and archaeology, contaminated land and coal mining risk, energy efficiency, agricultural land, planning contributions, and the cumulative impact of development.

Land West Of Unit 18, Bishop Auckland Retail Park, St Helen Auckland, DL14 9AA

The committee was scheduled to consider an application for the erection of Class E(a) retail units with access, car parking, servicing, bin stores, sprinkler tanks, and hard and soft landscaping at Land West Of Unit 18, Bishop Auckland Retail Park. This application was for Phase 2 of the existing retail park, with Phase 1 already built and operational. The proposal included four retail units of varying sizes. Discussions were expected to cover the principle of development, retail impact on town centre vitality and viability, economic assessment, landscape and visual impacts, locational sustainability and accessibility, sustainable design considerations, residential amenity impacts, highway safety and capacity, ecology, flooding and drainage, planning obligations, contaminated land and coal mining risk, and cumulative impacts.

Land North-East Of Glaxo, Harmire Road, Barnard Castle, DL12 8DT

The final application scheduled for discussion was for the installation of an underground cable and associated infrastructure to connect an approved solar farm to the GSK factory in Barnard Castle. This development was ancillary to an already approved solar farm. The committee was expected to consider the principle of development, temporary landscape and visual impact during construction and decommissioning, highway safety, flooding and drainage, ecology, residential amenity, heritage, safeguarded areas, agricultural land, and cumulative impact. The underground nature of the cable was noted as minimising long-term visual impact.

The meeting also included standard agenda items such as apologies, substitute members, declarations of interest, and the minutes of the previous meeting.