Field adjoining Lowery Lane, OS No. 0018, Adjoining B6532, DH7 6EN

Repair damage caused to field by mining subsidence, import sub and top soils to raise the levels to prevent flooding and allow field to naturally drain to the surrounding ditches. Stabilise the adjoining highway which is settling towards the field and has to keep repaired because of settlement

Authority: Durham County Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: agricultural · Other minor developments
Inspector: Scott A

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

whether or not the proposal would lead to off-site flooding

What decided it

The appellant failed to provide precise calculations, modelling details, or substantiation that the proposal would not increase flood risk elsewhere, particularly regarding how water would be controlled before discharge into a watercourse.

The personal benefit to the appellant from improved land contouring and cereal production was insufficient to outweigh the unacceptable flood risk and conflict with the development plan.

Plan policies cited: County Durham Plan 2020 Policy 35, County Durham Waste Local Plan 2005

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.

What an account adds

Draw a red line around your site and the appraisal follows.

Heritage. Listed buildings by grade and distance, conservation areas, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, heritage at risk.
Landscape and environment. Green belt, national parks and national landscapes, SSSIs, ancient woodland, SPA, SAC and Ramsar sites, nutrient catchments.
Flooding. Flood zones 2 and 3, surface water, and both again with climate change.
Transport. The 800 metre station catchment and service frequency, bus stops with their weekday frequency, the cycle network, and the Framework’s transport tests measured for the site.

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