THE Church Commissioners and Durham County Council have submitted a joint planning application to build 1435 homes on agricultural land, which they co-own, near the town of Newton Aycliffe.
The 97.1-hectare Copelaw development project, if approved, would create a series of “interlinked neighbourhoods” around a central “spine” road, including a primary school and town centre with shops.
“Our plans for the Newton Aycliffe scheme would provide high-quality, sustainable housing that meets the needs and aspirations of residents,” Matt Naylor, the Commissioners’ Team Lead — Strategic Land said. “Importantly, it features extensive social, environmental, and transport infrastructure, including a local primary school, green open space, elderly-care provision, and shops and services to create a thriving, well-connected community.”
A spokesperson for the Commissioners said that 15 per cent of the housing would be “affordable” and that 92 would be care homes. Also included would be sustainable drainage systems and “policy-compliant levels of biodiversity net gain”. Homes would be built to the Future Homes Standard.
The spokesperson told the Church Times last week: “The land is currently in agricultural use. As with all planning applications that are aiming to create new homes, we expect to receive some level of objection. However, we had a very positive public consultation, with many members of the public attending, as well as hosting an online Webinar and a meeting with the Town Council.”
A Strategic Land portfolio report from the Commissioners, last year (News, 14 April 2023), confirmed their plan to build 30,000 new homes on 60 sites around England, of which 9000 were to be affordable (News, 27 May 2022). Of the 30,000 homes, more than 9000 were subject to live planning applications, the report said.
On Thursday, a strategic planning meeting was held by Cornwall Council at which another planning application, submitted by the Commissioners in 2017, was approved. It is for building up to 315 properties on four fields, measuring 13.4 hectares, on the outskirts of Falmouth. This would be known as Falmouth North.
The plans include 280m² of mixed-use development, a new vehicular bridge over the railway from Falmouth to Truro, public open space, and associated landscaping and engineering works.
The spokesperson for the Commissioners said that 35 per cent of the homes would be affordable, in line with Cornwall council policy. “The application is accompanied by a suite of technical reports which conclude the development is acceptable and the officer’s Committee Report recommends the application for approval, subject to a Section 106 legal agreement. The County Council, who determine the application, are therefore supportive.”
Falmouth Town Council, however, had recommended that the plans be refused, owing to what it described as the “major impact” on already stretched services, such as healthcare providers, dentists, and schools. These, it says, are “already at capacity so the development is not viable for Falmouth’s services. The loss of good quality farmland is also unacceptable”.
The Commissioners’ spokesperson said: “The S106 agreement will include financial contributions towards education and health services as requested by the Education Services team and the NHS.”
Penryn Town Council had not objected to the plan. Budock Parish Council had objected to the access proposals.
The Commissioners write in their application: “The land at Falmouth North will offer a unique opportunity to allow sensitive and integrated growth of the town. Creation of the proposed new neighbourhood will connect new and existing community and recreation facilities, providing easy access to these along the southern boundary and enabling new residents to become part of a wider, established neighbourhood.
“The proposal will provide new homes in a green environment, with safe and attractive pedestrian and cycling routes through the site and to local facilities.”