Up to 20 homes at Land To The South West Of 27 Durham Road, West, Bowburn

What was proposed

The application sought outline permission for up to 20 dwellings, open space, drainage and infrastructure, with only access decided in detail.

“DM/24/03487/OUT Proposal: Outline application for the erection of up to 20 dwellings and associated open space, SuDs and infrastructure (all matters reserved except access)”

Officer report

The site

The 1.08-hectare site is an abandoned paddock between Bowburn and the Integra61 development, with a hedge and public footpath along its edge.

“The application site is 1.08ha in area, broadly triangular in shape, sited between the traditional village of Bowburn and the Integra61 development site. Bowburn is a large village sited 3 miles south-east of Durham City. The A177, Durham Road, runs through the village until, at it’s southern extent, it joins junction 61 of the A1(M) at a large roundabout.”

“The site fronts the head of the spine road through Inegra61, Bowburn Way, from which there is a new pedestrian/cycle connection to the village. On the facing site of this road, to the north-west is a housing development by Bellway Homes, the nursing home and the available site for a medical practice. North-east of the site is a social club, and a line of three individual dwellings that back onto the site: a bungalow, a dormer bungalow and a two-storey dwelling.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The committee heard from a parish councillor for the parish council, the applicant’s representative and the senior planning officer.

What members debated

Members discussed the number of bungalows, the hedge, biodiversity, design review red scores, drainage, trees and the reserved matters process.

“Councillor M Wilkes noted paragraph 98 of the report referred to layout and design and noted the adoption of the Building of Life Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) and CDP Policy 29. He added that in terms of the design review process, there were ratings given, red, amber, green.”

“The Senior Planning Officer noted that as there was an indicative layout in terms of properties, and in terms of tree planting. He reiterated that it was a two-stage design process, with layout often significantly improving at the reserved matters stage, with architects often adding too many trees at the outline stage.”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

The committee approved the application subject to the report’s conditions and Section 106 legal agreement.

“Councillor M Wilkes noted that if the full application coming forward at the reserved matters stage came through with red design score he would vote against such an application, however, he trusted Officers when looking at that application and therefore he would support the outline application with access and move approval. Councillor A Schulman seconded the motion for approval and upon a vote being taken it was:”

“That the application be APPROVED, subject to the conditions and s106 Legal Agreement as set out within the report.”

Minutes