440 homes set to be created as Durham planning application submitted

A North East property firm has announced that it has submitted a planning application for a new residential development near Durham.

Banks Property, based in Durham, has applied to the County Council for permission to create up to 440 new homes as part of the newly-adopted ‘County Durham Plan’.

The development would see housing provided on 17.25 hectares of land between Gilesgate and the A1, as well as improvements to the local road network and footpaths.

Lewis Stokes, community relations manager at The Banks Group, commented: “This is a high quality scheme located in what we believe is the most appropriate place in the local area and we’re excited to be formally submitting our proposals for our latest project within our home county.

“As well as contributing towards meeting local affordable housing needs and increasing the supply of homes for people who want to move to or stay in Durham City, the Bent House Lane project has also been designed to bring a wide range of economic, employment, environmental, supply chain and social benefits to the local area.

“Despite the restrictions brought about by the pandemic, we’ve been working hard to share as much information as possible with local residents and other stakeholders, and we’re pleased with the levels of local engagement we’ve managed to achieve, as well as the many positive comments that have come back to us about these proposals.

“Many people have been using our website to get in touch and express their support for the scheme and we’d love to hear from anyone else in the local community.

“Our aim to create an attractive, thriving new community that has the right sort of social, environmental and transport infrastructure required to make it a positive addition to the wider Durham City area and we’re excited by the opportunities that this project provides.

“The Bent House Lane site has been allocated in the County Durham Plan for the sort of residential development we’re proposing and we hope that Durham County Council’s planning committee will recognise everything that this development offers when it comes to consider our planning application.”