Visitor attractions and shows at Kynren Flatts Farm, Toronto, Bishop Auckland

What was proposed

Two applications sought new visitor attractions, including a Viking arena, covered seating, and the Legend of the Wear show.

“Proposals: 1) Creation of a venue known as the 'Viking Arena' including the erection of 3no. stands of tiered seating surrounding an oval arena, upturned Viking-longboat entrance feature and 2no. ancillary backstage buildings and associated footpaths, drainage, and landscaping. A covered seating facility known as 'The Hub', and associated footpaths, drainage, and landscaping. And…”

“2) Creation of a stage set and seating area for a new attraction known as The Legend of the Wear including the erection of 6no. buildings, a water mill, connecting wooden pathways, a false island, a mechanical submerged stage within the Show Lake, a bridge over the Show Lake, visitor seating and associated footpaths, drainage, and landscaping.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The attractions are within the established Kynren site, which includes existing show facilities, visitor parking and nearby heritage and landscape assets.

“The main Kyren event site is located approximately 0.5km to the north of Bishop Auckland. The 48.7ha site has been developed to provide a 8000-seat grandstand, and associated infrastructure to stage the Kynren show, with the Lost Feather Arena to the northern section of the site and existing Viking village area to the north of the main show and grandstand.”

“There are no Public Rights of Way (PROW) located within the application site. However, a PROW which forms part of the Weardale Valley Walkway (Footpath 85) runs along the western boundary of the main Kynren event site. The main event site is accessed from the A689 just to the north of the viaduct that also serves the railway path and bridleway.”

Officer report

Who took part

The applicants attended but did not speak, while planning officers and the Strategic Development Manager answered members’ questions.

Members’ discussion

Members discussed retrospective permission, biodiversity conditions, monitoring, the lack of a site visit and the benefits of the attraction to Bishop Auckland.

“Councillor A Savory stated that when driving over the viaduct and you looked left you could see the Kynren development which was a considerable size. It had been completed to a high standard and was the nucleus of Bishop Auckland with no other such attraction nearby. The benefits of bringing employment to the area outweighed the harm and seconded the motion to approve both applications subject to the conditions set out in the report.”

“Councillor M Wilkes reiterated that it was not great to see retrospective planning applications come to committee. He had not seen or heard anything to not support the applications. [name withheld] was doing an amazing job to regenerate Bishop Auckland placing it on an international stage which he applauded. He hoped to see more development in Bishop Auckland to bring it back to the way it was including seeing more shops on the High Street.”

Minutes

The votes

Members unanimously voted to approve each application separately because the Legend of the Wear application also involved a possible Section 106 agreement.

“The Lawyer (Planning and Highways) noted that there was a mover and seconder for the motion for both applications to be approved. However he advised that two votes were required (one for each application) as although both applications were subject to conditions as detailed in the report, the application for the Legend of the Wear (DM/26/00880/FPA) was also subject to a Section 106 agreement to secure a BNG monitoring fee of £2812.”

“He stated that the Section 106 agreement would only be required if the applicant secured BNG onsite. In the event the applicant purchased credits offsite through Natural England then officers would dispense with the need for the Section 106 agreement. This would be monitored.”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

Both applications were approved subject to the report’s conditions, with a £2,812 biodiversity monitoring agreement for the Legend of the Wear application if required.

“That the application be APPROVED subject to the conditions detailed in the report…”

“That the application be APPROVED subject to the conditions detailed in the report and a Section 106 legal agreement to secure a BNG monitoring fee of £2812 if required.”

Minutes