Following the launch of a new high-quality residential development to the east of Durham City last month, an outline planning application has been submitted to Durham County Council.
Banks Property is applying for permission for up to 440 family homes on 17.25 hectares of land to the south of the A181 Sherburn Road between Gilesgate and the A1 which has been allocated for residential development in the recently-adopted County Durham Plan.
Improvements to the local road network would be put in place to ensure traffic flow remains smooth in and around the new development, while around 3.5 hectares of public open space will be provided as part of the proposals.
The scheme would also include a new network of footpaths and cycleways that will link to nearby facilities, including to the retail offer at Dragonville and Damson Way and the National Cycle Route 14 to Durham City, while other off-site improvements to the south of the site would include new planting and ecological enhancements.
New bus stops will be provided on the A181 to complement the existing bus services which already go past the site, while contributions to the local education system will also form part of the overall scheme.
Lewis Stokes, community relations manager at The Banks Group, says: “This is a high quality scheme located in what we believe is the most appropriate place in the local area and we’re excited to be formally submitting our proposals for our latest project within our home county.
“As well as contributing towards meeting local affordable housing needs and increasing the supply of homes for people who want to move to or stay in Durham City, the Bent House Lane project has also been designed to bring a wide range of economic, employment, environmental, supply chain and social benefits to the local area.
“Despite the restrictions brought about by the pandemic, we’ve been working hard to share as much information as possible with local residents and other stakeholders, and we’re pleased with the levels of local engagement we’ve managed to achieve, as well as the many positive comments that have come back to us about these proposals.
“Many people have been using our website to get in touch and express their support for the scheme and we’d love to hear from anyone else in the local community.
“Our aim to create an attractive, thriving new community that has the right sort of social, environmental and transport infrastructure required to make it a positive addition to the wider Durham City area and we’re excited by the opportunities that this project provides.
“The Bent House Lane site has been allocated in the County Durham Plan for the sort of residential development we’re proposing and we hope that Durham County Council’s planning committee will recognise everything that this development offers when it comes to consider our planning application.”
Banks Property is hoping to get a decision on the Bent House Lane project from Durham County Council in the first quarter of 2021.
For further information on the scheme and to register support for it, please visit www.banksgroup.co.uk/benthouselane, while the project team can be contacted via benthouselane@banksgroup.co.uk