Protestors applauded in the public gallery as plans for 320 homes on a site off Ormesby Bank were rejected for a second time.
Redcar and Cleveland Council today refused planning permission for the controversial scheme at Longbank Farm, Ormesby.
Permission was first refused last October after concerns were voiced over traffic, schools, the loss of green space, flooding, wildlife, potential mine subsidence and the impact on already strained facilities.
After considering the reasons for refusal, the agents for developer Gladedale Estates resubmitted the same application, only with more information included about ground conditions and flood risk.
However, the council’s regulatory committee, meeting at the Redcar and Cleveland Leisure Heart, again decided to refuse planning permission. The applicant now has until April 16 to appeal.
The committee heard that 87 letters of objection had been received, with just one in support. Several residents addressed the meeting, including protester Lesley Tart, who said the development would be a “blot on the landscape”, while Ann Wilson’s concerns included possible subsidence from old mines.
She said: “It is ridiculous even to contemplate building on that land.”
Councillor Brenda Forster said she had “no problem” with houses being built on the site, but she did have a major problem with the traffic, saying: “It’s horrendous and it wants sorting out before anyone builds on there.”
Councillor John Hannon agreed traffic was a key issue, saying that without Redcar and Cleveland and Middlesbrough councils moving ahead with an East Middlesbrough bypass, the whole area would be “completely congested.”
Councillor Peter Spencer was worried about the “ground conditions and topgraphy of the land”, while Councillor Valerie Halton said that on five of 11 key points, it would be a departure from the council’s development plan. “It goes against what we believe in,” she said. “I couldn’t possibly support this application.”
Councillor David Fitzpatrick said: “I don’t think we need to be building in the country - I can’t support it. It would be ideal on a brownfield site, somewhere that needs greening up.”
But Councillor Eric Jackson warned: “If we turn this down again, they would go to appeal and we would lose it there.”
Councillors voted 9-2 to refuse outline planning permission. Any appeal will be made based on last October’s planning refusal, not today’s.
No comments:
Post a Comment