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Planning appeal decision

Allowed24 July 20266003014

Land to the South of Wagtail Lane, Craghead, DH7 0DT

Planning appeal 6003014 at Land to the South of Wagtail Lane, Craghead, DH7 0DT (Durham County Council) was allowed on 24 July 2026 by Inspector L N Hughes, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area.

the installation of a ground mounted photovoltaic solar development, electrical substation and associated infrastructure

Authority
Durham County Council
Appeal type
Planning
Procedure
Written
Development
utilities-energy
Inspector
L N Hughes
Postcode
DH7 0DT

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area
  • the recreational value of the area, with specific regard to walkers and equestrian activities

What decided it

The significant weight given to the proposal's contribution to mitigating climate change and achieving net zero targets, combined with substantial biodiversity net gain and economic benefits, outweighed the moderate harm to character and appearance and limited harm to recreational value.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
County Durham Plan Policy 10County Durham Plan Policy 26County Durham Plan Policy 31County Durham Plan Policy 33County Durham Plan Policy 35County Durham Plan Policy 39County Durham Plan Policy 44
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 11Paragraph 57Paragraph 105Paragraph 161Paragraph 168Paragraph 187Paragraph 200

How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.

See how each was applied

The decision letter

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More decisions in Durham County Council

The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2026

  1. Dismissed22 October 20266007418
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  2. Dismissed16 September 20266005969
    3 Roosevelt Road, Durham, DH1 1PS
  3. Dismissed16 September 20266004850
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  4. Dismissed16 September 20266004494
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  5. Dismissed11 August 20266006359
    The Copse, Foxes Row, Brancepeth, DH7 8DH

The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.

In the app this decision sits on the map beside every appeal around it, with its letter to read and the main issues, policies and judgments cited picked out.