Sniperley Farm Buildings, Durham

Demolition of existing buildings adjacent to B6532 and outline planning permission (all matters reserved except for access) for a maximum of 1,550 residential dwellings (Use Class C3), a local centre (Use Classes E and F2), public house (Use Class Sui Generis) and primary school (Use Class F1), compensatory improvements to the Green Belt, associated infrastructure and landscaping . Summary of Recommendation: That the appeal be allowed

Authority: Durham County Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Inquiry
Development: residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector: Hockenhull H

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

Masterplanning, provision and timing on infrastructure (Appeals A, B and D)
Sustainable transport (Appeals A, B and D)
Education (Appeals A, B and D)
District heating (Appeals A, B and D)
Affordable housing (Appeal D)
Viability and other housing issues
Heritage (Appeals B, C and D)
Ecology
Poor design, overdevelopment and car parking (Appeal D)
Highway safety
Other issues (Appeals A, B and D)

What decided it

The proposals were found to accord with the development plan as a whole (particularly CDP Policy 5) and the substantial benefits of housing and affordable housing delivery outweighed the limited landscape harm identified.

For each appeal, significant weight benefits (housing, affordable housing, economic benefits) together with moderate and limited weight benefits outweighed the limited weight landscape harm, and combined with accordance with the development plan, indicated permission should be granted.

Framework references: 11, 55, 56, 57, 147

Plan policies cited: Policy 4, Policy 5, Policy 15, Policy 19, Policy 21, Policy 22, Policy 24, Policy 25, Policy 26, Policy 27, Policy 29, Policy 35, Policy 36, Policy 39, Policy 40, Policy 41, Policy 44, Policy 45, Witton Gilbert Neighbourhood Plan Policy 2, Witton Gilbert Neighbourhood Plan Policy 3, Witton Gilbert Neighbourhood Plan Policy 6, Witton Gilbert Neighbourhood Plan Policy 7, Witton Gilbert Neighbourhood Plan Policy 11

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.