Friday, June 27, 2014

Development of 350 homes at 19th century farm site in Stockton given green light



A development of 350 homes at a 19th century farm site on Durham Road in Stockton has been given the green light.


Stockton’s planning committee yesterday voted 6-4 to approve the plans for the agricultural site, known as Summerville Farm, north of Harrowgate Lane.


While the application site is outside an area already identified by the authority as “suitable for development” for 2,500 dwellings, the committee was told that Stockton Council was not able to demonstrate a five-year supply of housing land, and that “a major benefit of the proposal is that it will boost significantly the supply of housing”.


A total of 22 objections to the proposals had been received from members of the public, with concerns including that the historic farm buildings on the land are “an important part of the area’s past and should be preserved”.


Other concerns were around the loss of open space and traffic congestion, as well as a question over the need for more housing “with hundreds of unsold properties within a few miles”.


A condition of the approval is that a Second World War pillbox on the site be preserved and protected.


On advice from Tees Archaeology, officers also put forward a further condition that no demolition will take place until a programme of historic building recording has taken place and been investigated.



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