The piece of land which used to be a woodland at the entrance to Pity Me currently has planning permission for five houses. This was challenged by your Lib Dem councillors as over development but passed by the Labour majority planning committee. There were numerous faults with the way in which that planning application was managed by the council which resulted in a Level 2 complaint and a report from the council at my request. There would have been a total of 23 bedrooms in the houses and insufficient parking in the previously approved application.

The new application has now come in for SIX houses.  These are individually smaller than the houses passed in the previous application but serious concerns must be raised.

You can view the application here:

http://publicaccess.durham.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=NPQKJNGDL3T00

And can comment using the online system or by emailing  dmcentraleast@durham.gov.uk

My concerns at the moment are, not exclusively:

1. Parking provision

2. Safety of access and egress  at this very tight cul de sac

3. Safety and parking provision during construction

4. Ensuring the remaining trees which had Tree Preservation Orders placed on them can be properly protected as part of this application

5. Whether the building of six houses on a piece of land just 30m wide by 9 meters deep is over development!

6. Safety /utility for potential occupants of the properties – there will be no access to the rear of four of the properties other than through the house – the end house will have a TPO’d tree hanging over it, with little light, this is going to result in blocked drains and slippery paths and pressure on the council, at their cost in the future to remove the trees, which will also further damage the look of the area and upset residents.

7. The applicant proposes to use additional land for the development which is currently owned by the county council which has not been made surplus to requirements, including a grassed area.

Clearly if existing residents are to lose parking area as part of this development, and the community is to lose this grassed area, then the council must ensure that alternative provision for parking is provided and that the revenue from the sale of the council land is used to improve the parking situation for residents in this area.