400 homes and local centre at Land At Red Barns, Brandon, Durham

What was proposed

The hybrid application sought 140 detailed homes, up to 260 outline homes, retail space, a mobility hub, access, drainage and landscaping.

“FULL APPLICATION DESCRIPTION: Hybrid application comprising full planning permission for the construction of 140 dwellings, primary site access and associated SuDS and landscaping; and outline planning permission with all matters reserved for the construction of up to 260 dwellings, local centre incorporating retail (up to 4,000 sqft) (Use Class E) and mini-mobility hub, and associated SuDS and landscaping (Amended Description).”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The 38-hectare site comprised agricultural fields in open countryside at the western edge of Brandon, Browney and Meadowfield.

“The application site comprises a number of agricultural fields measuring 38 hectares (ha) in total area. The site is located at the western edge of the settlement cluster of Brandon, Browney and Meadowfield, and to the south of the A690. To the north, west and east are open agricultural fields, with an existing farm known as Red Barns located at the northern boundary.”

“Around half of the site falls within the Coalfield Development High Risk Coal Area as identified by the Coal Authority. The remainder of the site falls within the Lower Risk Area. There are no mineshafts within the site, the nearest being located to the south of Meadowfield Industrial Estate approximately 500 metres to the east of the site.”

Officer report

Planning history

There was no history of planning applications at the site.

“There is no history of planning applications at this site.”

Officer report

Who spoke

A ward member and a resident spoke against the proposal, while the applicant’s representative spoke in support.

Committee debate

Members debated congestion, access safeguards, housing need, agricultural land, affordability, sustainability, local services and the effect of national housing targets.

“In relation to need, Councillor Elmer suggested that it was important to note the way that the government had amended the calculation. Need had formerly been based on a percentage uplift of the quantity of housing, whereas the previous approach was demographic and had taken into account net migration, birth and death rates, and the age structure of the population. This information had previously been used to calculate the need and type of housing.”

“Councillor Elmer confirmed that there were areas that did not comply with the CDP. The site was on good quality, Grade 3a agricultural land, which continued to be farmed and it would be lost if the application was approved, contrary to Policy 14. It was also in conflict with Policy 6 which directed development on unallocated sites.”

Minutes

The vote

The committee resolved to approve the application.

“That the application be approved That the application be APPROVED subject to the conditions outlined in the report, and completion of an agreement under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) to secure:”

Minutes