Long-awaited plans for massive Startforth housing estate unveiled

THE long-awaited plans for a massive new housing scheme in Startforth have been lodged with Durham County Council.
The proposals are for 162 two, three and four bed family homes on 10.5ha of land formerly owned by the Ministry of Justice next to Deerbolt Young Offenders’ Institution.
Following a selection process, the land was sold to Bedfordshire-based Kier Living, which has been taking advice on the scheme from Durham County Council's planning department since January. The plans envisage 55 two-bed homes, 48 with three bedrooms and 59 four-bed properties. Of the 162 houses, 24 would be classed as affordable.
Despite its official closure this Friday (December 16), the developer points to the benefits the housing estate would bring to Startforth Morritt Primary School.
“New housing, in terms of size and tenure, will encourage the growth of diversity within the community, with provision for large and small families, for young and old alike,” states the developer.
“Local community facilities, for example Startforth primary, will benefit from this wider choice of housing.”
In its statement of community involvement, Kier Living adds: “The applicant has been liaising with Durham County Council on the proposals for the site and it is considered there is adequate capacity in local services such as education to accommodate the development.
“Indeed, during the consultation process, the low intake of students at the local school was raised a number of times.”
Cllr Richard Bell, who represents Startforth on Durham County Council, said the closure of the school should be considered when a decision is made on planning permission. “As I said during the closure process of the school, given the number of houses planned to be built in Startforth, the county council should have kept the school open,” he said.
“Durham County Council ignored that and now the lack of amenities is to me a good reason to challenge further large-scale developments in Startforth.”
However, a council spokesman said there would be capacity at other schools to cope. He said: “162 houses would be projected to produce in the region of 49 extra primary pupils over a 10 to 15-year period.
“Following the closure of Startforth Morritt school there will be capacity for 549 primary school age pupils across all the schools in the Barnard Castle area. Taking into account other nearby housing developments, pupil numbers are projected to be in the region of 478 by 2020/21 – meaning there remains sufficient school places available for prospective pupils from
this proposed development, should it proceed.”
According to the proposals, the current junction into the prison will be used as the only entrance to the estate, with a new access created on the A67 to Deerbolt YOI.
A new prison car park for 232 vehicles is incorporated in the plan, while on the estate there will be 416 parking places comprising a mix of on-street, drives, single and double garages with spaces to the front or side.
There are no dedicated areas featuring play equipment in the plans. However, Kier Living says there is plenty of space for “incidental communal play”. This includes a village green running through the centre of the estate, two grassed open areas and a woodland walk.
The developer also says talks have been held over paying towards upgrading the existing play area in Startforth.
The county council says consultations are being carried out with relevant bodies such as the NHS and the highway authority to understand the impact the development would have on local infrastructure. Planning documents can be viewed at www.
durham.gov.uk.
The plan reference number is DM/16/03310/FPA. The period for comments is due to end on December 29. However, the council says it will take comments until  an application is determined and, in this case, extend the period due to the Christmas holidays.