Planning committee voted 7-7 for and against housing development on site of former nightclub and hotel and it was passed on chairman's casting vote
Plans for Tall Trees Hotel site
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A controversial development of 330 new homes in Yarm has been approved by planners by the narrowest of votes.
Stockton Council’s planning committee voted 7-7 for and against the housing development on the site of the former Tall Trees nightclub and hotel, and it was passed on the chairman’s casting vote.
As reported, the committee had been advised again to green-light the scheme - despite rejecting it once already in December.
Stockton Council's legal officers deferred the previous decision by the elected committee, who had voted 8-4 against the application.
The plans came back before the committee yesterday, along with a legal report advising that the committee’s reasons for the previous refusal were “weak and would be very unlikely to be defended successfully on appeal”.
The planning committee had thrown out the housing application saying it was outside the limits of development and the site, on Worsall Road owned by Javed Majid, was unsustainable due to lack of public transport.
But both planning and legal officers were concerned these reasons for refusal “would not be sustainable at appeal and might result in the award of costs against the council”.
Councillor Jim Beall, on the planning committee, voted against the plans the first time but said he would “reluctantly vote for the application based on the legal advice”.
But Councillor Ken Lupton said he would “remain against the application” and warned: “We cannot continue to develop in one part of the borough just to satisfy our five-year housing requirements.”
Councillor Steve Walmsley agreed, saying: “We have set a precedent by allowing housing to go through - the Morley Carrs and likes.
“It’s a nonsense, and I think it’s about time we say ‘right, let’s stop and think again’.”
But Councillor Mike Clark said it was “factually incorrect to say this is the only area of the borough where development is being proposed”.
Developers behind the Tall Trees scheme, Maher Projects, say young sports players in the Yarm area will gain valuable new football and cricket pitches along with associated clubhouse facilities, from the scheme.
Walkers and ramblers could also see limited access to the valley opened up - with any paths created being “sympathetic to the sensitive eco system”.
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