Durham Council approves £30m housing development

A £30m housing development on the outskirts of Durham city has been given the go-ahead by the council.

The plans for 271 family homes in the Browney Lane area have been given planning approval from Durham County Council.

The planning committee approved the plans by a majority of eight votes to three after the application was recommended for approval by the council’s planning offices.

Banks Property, who put forward the proposal, will also invest £300,00 to both improve the traffic flow and pedestrian crossing facility at the junction of Browney Lane and the A690 at Meadowfield.

They will also increase the area of the 30 MPH speed limit on Browney Lane.

More than £270,000 will be invested in creating new public open spaces and play spaces, with £50,000 allocated for public art works.

Banks Property, part of the Banks Group are investing in the area as part of a scheme that will meet a growing local demand for high quality properties, and bring a range of employment, economic and community benefits.

The 27-acre site, which sits on agricultural land, was identified for new housing in the County Durham Plan Preferred Options document.

A 20 per cent allocation of affordable housing has been included in the development plans.

The site preparation and construction of the Browney Lane development will create around 25 new full time jobs, and the scheme may also benefit local construction and supply chain businesses.

Michael Shuttleworth, managing director of Banks Property, said: “We’re very pleased that the members of Durham County Council’s planning committee have followed the recommendation of their officers in approving our Browney Lane planning application today.

“Private sector investment in projects such as this is crucial in leading the regional and national economies out of the troubled times we’ve all endured recently, and especially to driving growth, creating jobs and supporting the struggling local supply chain in the construction sector.

“As well as meeting a growing local demand for high quality family homes and including a 20 per cent allocation of affordable housing, our scheme will also create around 25 new jobs during its site preparation and construction phases, and will see local businesses benefit in both the short and long-term.

“Our commitment to investing around £300,000 in the local road infrastructure as part of the project will help to tackle the existing transport issues in the area that were highlighted by many local people during our public engagement work around these proposals, and we will also be investing over £320,000 in creating new public open spaces, play spaces and public art works.

“We’re very grateful for the considerable support that we’ve had for our plans from many local people, from local businesses and from Durham County Council, and look forward to take our proposals forward as soon as possible.”