Plan for 13 new homes on site of former kennels

PLANNING permission is being sought to build new houses in Copley.
Proposals have been submitted to Durham County Council for 13 homes at the former Glencrest Kennels and Cattery, on Copley Lane – more than twice as many as were refused permission on the same site last year.
Douglas Fox, who owns the buildings, including the Glencrest house, was refused planning permission twice.
One application was for permission to build a four bedroom bungalow with access and a second was for a residential development of four houses.
One of the reasons for refusal was the potential for noise nuisance from dogs barking in the nearby kennels.
However, the application points out the business closed in September last year after becoming unviable so this is no longer an issue.
The latest application states the kennels and cattery buildings would be demolished to make way for the 13 new properties and parking spaces for 28 vehicles.
According to the design and access statement by agent PlanArch Design Ltd: “The proposed site is one which will become derelict unless an appropriate alternative use is determined.”
The new development would be “sympathetic” to the surroundings with natural slate roofing and natural stone walls.
Mr Fox believes the development would be a “sustainable and efficient” use of the land.
Resident Heather Crawford raised her concerns about the limited demand for new housing in the area as well as the access to the site.
She wrote: “The speed of drivers on Copley Lane should still be noted. Although the B6282 is a 40mph zone, at the access point to the site rarely do drivers remain within these limits and with the parking of cars on the highway (same side to the access) we would be worried that access may not be as visible as the area is fully parked on evenings and weekends.”
However county councillor Heather Smith supported the application.
She wrote: “The applicant has tried hard to sell the kennel business without success. This is a good use of land which would re-use the site where the kennel and cattery buildings currently stand to provide good quality housing.
“It would provide some affordable housing which is desperately needed.”
A new access is proposed from Copley Lane.
There would also be a new pedestrian path from the road.
Glencrest would retain its existing separate entrance. Access to Camphill, another property located to the east of Glencrest, would be provided from the new road. The existing vehicle access on Copley Lane would be removed.
The site would include a mix of three and four bedroom houses, three bedroom dormer bungalows and two bedroom bungalows.
Two of the properties would be made available as affordable homes.