College housing plan expected to be refused
East Durham College wants to build the homes on an old running track at Willerby Drive in Peterlee, but a planning officer from Durham County Council has recommended the projected be refused permission.
George Spurgeon pointed out a number of problems with the scheme and said it would result in a loss of playing fields in the area.
However, Easington MP Grahame Morris has supported the application because it would bring the land back into use.
He said the plans would "repurpose a neglected area and generate revenues to enable the college to continue to deliver high-quality academic and sports provision, as well as much-needed housing".
The site was last used as a playing field in 2019, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
In its planning statement the college said the field was overgrown and it had no "surplus funds or intention" to reuse it as a playing pitch.
In his recommendation to the council, Mr Spurgeon said the proposed development would lead to the loss of about two hectares (7.4 acres) of playing fields and the application did not show a surplus of such facilities in the area.
Sport England objected to the plans for the same reason.
Mr Spurgeon said the development was of a "poor design" when assessed against the council's County Durham Plan Building for Life Supplementary Planning Document.
He said it "would not be possible for an appropriate layout for something numerically close to 54 dwellings" to be built while adhering to the guidelines.
The plans would also require prominent trees to be cut down and the development would cause significant harm to biodiversity in the area, Mr Spurgeon said.
Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk.
College in £10m expansion plan
East Durham College
Durham County Council
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Yahoo
York city walls wildflowers hailed a success
Wildflower displays planted alongside York's city walls have been hailed a success despite previous opposition to the scheme. City of York Council said the flowers in Station Rise had been "flourishing" even in the dry conditions and said the "response has been overwhelmingly positive". Modelled on the Tower of London's Moat in Bloom, the council said the Walls in Bloom project aims to create a changing display of wildflowers from spring to autumn. However the project attracted some initial criticism when the ground was being prepared last summer, with more than 3,000 people signing a petition calling for the condition of the area to be reinstated. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service sowing wildflower seeds instead of more traditional bedding plants means the area can be managed in a more environmentally and financially-sustainable way. Environment executive member Jenny Kent hit back against critics in April, saying she welcomed people caring about the walls but they should ask questions before stirring up unnecessary anger. She went on to say she had not seen a single bad reaction. "The response has been overwhelmingly positive," she said. "In 2023 we had bedding plants that died off in similar weather and it's not fair to compare this to the 1950s or 1970s because there's no such thing as a normal summer anymore. "We've had several people get in touch with us who are interested in what we've done here and who want to replicate it themselves. "This display is a showcase for what others across York could do." Meanwhile the authority's ancient monuments manager Liam Dennis said the dry conditions had been a challenge. "There's been a lot of hard work going on behind the scenes and we're grateful to volunteers and businesses who've helped us, we've had to water the flowers more than we initially thought," he said. "But the flowers have flourished in a way that traditional bedding plants wouldn't have. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North Local Democracy Reporting Service York City Council York Walls In Bloom Wildflower verges give splash of colour to roads
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Yahoo
New school approved after cost-cutting changes
A new secondary school will be built after cost-cutting changes were made to its designs. The school will be built at the Alconbury Weald Education Campus, near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, with space for 600 pupils. Instead of being built in the originally proposed "H" shape, the main teaching block will be a "T" shape. The school is being built to serve the new development in Alconbury which will turn a former airfield into about 6,500 new homes. In planning documents, Cambridgeshire County Council and developer Morgan Sindall said the changes "introduced improvements to the design of the scheme". The plans, which have been approved by the council's planning committee, said it was a "more efficient use of area and improves pupil and staff circulation between the school facilities". It could also allow for an expansion to create an enclosed external courtyard space. If expanded, the school could double its pupil capacity to 1,200, said the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Last year, the council proposed not installing a sprinkler system in the new school as construction costs had "significantly" exceeded the £37m project budget. It was thought a sprinkler system could cost between £850,000 and £900,000, although it was later suggested this figure may have been "on the high side". The report said a risk assessment found it was acceptable not to include sprinklers, with other fire protection features proposed. At the time, some councillors disputed the proposals not top have sprinklers. The final plans for the school include a sprinkler tank – a tank that typically provides the water for a sprinkler system. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Councillors say school must have £900k sprinklers New housing development includes Cold War bunker Cambridgeshire County Council Local Democracy Reporting Service
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Yahoo
Five-star loos lead to 'toilet envy'
Eight public toilets in the Chichester district will be refurbished after getting council approval. The plans follow the demolition and rebuilding of the old toilet block in Tower Street. The new Tower Street toilet, which opened earlier this month, cost more than £200,000 and has been said to be inspiring "envy" in other areas after receiving positive Google reviews. The cost of the latest scheme has not yet been revealed but will be made up of money from the Asset Replacement Fund and from reserves. Chichester District Council does not legally have to provide public toilets, but leader Adrian Moss said they were important to residents, adding that the Tower Street project had been "a triumph". Councillor John Cross added: "There is a bit of toilet envy going on with other district councils because our Tower Street toilets have been given a five-star rating on Google and other district councils want the same!" The toilets set for improvement are in Bracklesham Bay in Bracklesham, Pound Road car park in Petworth, Lifeboat Way in Selsey, Northgate car park in Chichester, Avenue de Chartres car park in Chichester, Hillfield Road in Selsey, Kingfisher Parade in East Wittering and Marine Drive in West Wittering. The council will now look for a contractor to carry out the work, which will be a phased approach over the next two years, said the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Coastal public toilets reopened for summer season South East councils close dozens of public toilets Chichester District Council Local Democracy Reporting Service
