Plans submitted for a dozen new homes at former petrol station in Durham

A North East property developer has announced plans to create a dozen new homes at a derelict Durham site.

Modo Bloc has submitted plans to “sympathetically regenerate” a derelict former petrol station site at Neville’s Cross in Durham.

The new development, just off A167 Newcastle Road, is set to create 12 family townhouses, designed by Greatspace Architects to fit into its Conservation Area location.

The planning application is supported by Newcastle planning consultants BH Planning & Design, and is under consultation at Durham County Council.

However, members of the St. John’s Road Action group have condemned the development as “unsympathetic to the local area”.

A representative of the group commented: “The whole emphasis of the development is solely to maximise profits for the developer and the current landowner (who has left the site in the state it is in) and without any concern for the conservation area, a sympathetic design matching the local area, the complete overmassing and overshadowing nature of their design or the concerns of the local community who really wanted to engage with them to renovate the space.”

George Jenkins, managing director of Modo Bloc, said: “We have listened carefully to what nearby residents would like to see on the site and have gone to great lengths in the design process to create attractive, family homes that will have a positive impact on the local area.

“Preparing a viable scheme has not been without its challenges, given the number of issues that any redevelopment of this site needs to overcome.

“The homes will help meet the high demand for premium family living, in a popular location.”