Further details on plans for hundreds of Darlington homes

Further details about plans for hundreds of new homes in Darlington have been revealed. 

Darlington Borough Council’s planning committee will consider a proposal for 475 homes on land north of Coniscliffe Road at a meeting on Wednesday. 

An outline planning application for 535 homes at the site was approved earlier this year. The latest reserved matters proposal includes details on the development’s appearance, access, landscaping, layout, and scale. 

A mix of two, three and four-bed homes will be built across the site. 

In an agreement between the developer Taylor Wimpey and the local authority, 95 homes are set to be made available as affordable units. The access arrangements for the site were agreed and approved under outline planning permission in May.

Some amendments to the scheme were made following a community consultation exercise with residents and local stakeholders. A ‘kick about’ area will be created as well as an enhanced planting scheme. Prior to submitting the application, a community consultation exercise was commissioned by the applicant to establish the views of nearby residents and local stakeholders. 

However, some residents shared their concerns over school places, shops, GP practices, traffic management on Coniscliffe Road, and disposal of sewage and surface water. They also argued the development would change the look and feel of the area popular with dog walkers. 

A council report said there is also concern that there are no bungalows to cater to an ageing population. 

The report added: “It is noted that the Reserved Matters application is for the erection of No 475 dwellings which is within the parameters of the outline planning permission (535 dwellings). The reduction on the overall number of dwellings is due to the site constraints and the need to comply with appropriate planning policy requirements. 

“The proposed development comprises a mix of two, three and four-bed dwellings across the site. The mix of accommodation is distributed across the site to ensure that all tenures are well integrated within the new community and create mixed neighbourhoods.”

The latest plans have been recommended for approval by Darlington Borough Council and will be considered at a planning committee meeting on Wednesday, November 6.