TODAY’S MEETING

Following a meeting  today with Ian Thompson, Corporate Director for Regeneration and Economic Development, and conversations with senior planning officers, I can provide the following update on the County Durham Plan, specifically in relation to Durham City Greenbelt issues.

I still personally believe that it is fundamentally wrong to build on the existing greenbelt around Durham City.

In relation to land North of the Arnison Centre which, according to various sources has been acquired or rights acquired by Ainscough Strategic Land (ASL), I have been told that no meetings have taken place in relation to this piece of land between ASL and the Council – though the Council has discussed land in Bishop Auckland with this company.

 However, there have been meetings with land owners of sites currently being considered under the County Durham Plan, including this land prior to the current apparent change in ownership.

COUNCIL PREFERENCE TO BUILD ON GREENBELT

I am also told that the revised Plan when released for consultation in coming months, will state that the preference of the Council is to build on the Green Belt. This to me implies that the Consultation on whether to build on greenbelt has become a tick box exercise in the eyes of the Council.

With this in mind, whilst I still fundamentally disagree with building on the Green Belt, and think we should do all we can to stop this, I feel it is also necessary for all possible options to be looked at to mitigate such development should it happen.

Any proposals which can be put forward to reduce impact on the greenbelt must be considered.

The Council has not considered all potential development sites both inside and outside of Durham City which could be built on BUT ARE NOT GREENBELT.

The Council strategy is that they want to build as many houses as close to Durham City as their plan allows for. I believe that surrounding villages, and land within the City have not been considered in their calculations.

LARGE PIECES OF LAND NOT CONSIDERED

I firmly believe that up to 2000 houses could be built on land which is not greenbelt within a few miles of the City, thus protecting around half of the greenbelt which would be lost, and further that if greenbelt is to be built on, the way in which this land is developed could be done in such a way as to considerably reduce the impact on these areas.

By way of example, looking at Bearpark, the provision of additional housing in the village would make the existing businesses more sustainable and reduce impact on the wider greenbelt. This could also include a new primary school building and community centre hub. The Strategic Land Assessment appears to suggest 150 additional properties here but more could be accommodated with improvements to local roads and facilities. To date, no housing provision has been mentioned for Bearpark.

In other areas, similar housing provision is possible. There is the potential for some additional housing in Witton Gilbert for example.

Both villages need to be fully consulted as part of the Council Plan as whatever happens it will effect the residents in these areas.

Any discussion on this is of course dependent upon the Council’s  belief that we need this number of houses being correct. I have not been convinced that we need this number of additional houses.

FACILTIES

As the Council is going to press ahead with this consultation, a discussion now also needs to start as to what additional facilities will be forthcoming for the affected areas, and also what the improvements to the existing areas which are going to be impacted will be.

Having looked at the initial Council Plan, it is clear that the impact on Framwellgate Moor and Pity Me will be huge.

Some of the examples of things which will have to be provided and which if the plan goes ahead I will be pushing for include:

Increased parkland and recreational areas

Additional allotments

Additional primary school places and improved existing comprehensive school facilities – potentially a new school

More healthcare facilities such as doctors, dentists, Sure Start, improvements to local shops and potentially more shops.

Improvements to the existing housing estates and streets including for example the upgrading of unadopted roads in Framwellgate Moor and Pity Me such as the terraces to the rear of Framwellgate Moor Front Street and the back lanes at rear of Front St, Pity Me .

Improvements and guarantees for the existing Community Centre in Framwellgate Moor and potential provision of further community buildings. [The community buildings review has still not been released and will be 10 months overdue if released in September].

Improved indoor leisure facilities – including the guarantee that Abbey Leisure Centre returns to full opening hours. [Note that I am meeting with officers on Thursday to discuss the way forward for protecting as much as possible at Abbey. Seems crazy to cut back hours at a centre if you are planning to build 4000 houses on the doorstep!]

A clear plan to mitigate the potential increase in traffic levels – which is where debate on the proposed bypasses will come in.

TYPE OF HOUSING AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Any consideration for new housing must take into account the existing problems in the area in relation to provision of affordable housing.

This must not just be about the cost to buy or rent, but also the cost to live in. So proper bus routes, zero carbon homes with very low energy requirements, proper use of and dispersal of rainwater to avoid flooding.

There also needs to be a much more in depth consideration of the impacts on wildlife given the number of at risk species which can be found on much of these areas.

CONCLUSION

I am not convinced that we need 5000 new homes in Durham City and do not believe we should be building on the greenbelt.

I do believe that if houses are to be built, there are large areas of land which are not greenbelt which could accommodate housing and have not been considered due to the Council’s strategy of wanting the new housing to be within Durham and not in the surrounding villages.

It is clear that existing residents must see guarantees of improvements to the existing area including regeneration, provision of recreational land, allotments and improved community and leisure facilities.

Issues relating to traffic are a critical point and additional houses must be accompanied by road infrastructure improvements and measures to reduce car usage.

At every stage going forward the Council must be honest with residents about how many houses are being proposed to be built and exactly where.

A wide variety of housing must be provided and must be affordable to live in and carbon neutral.

The Council must prove that it has consulted with all residents about its plans and this should be more than just meetings. Every household in the most affected areas should be written to with a dedicated survey to complete and return.