New houses ‘will spoil view from Barnard Castle’

A DEVELOPER has been accused of “spinning sugar” in appealing against a rejection of 40 new homes.

An appeal was lodged with the Planning Inspectorate last month to overturn a decision to refuse outline planning permission for the homes in a field near the former primary school in Startforth.

But Barnard Castle town clerk Michael King hit out at the developer for “subjective statements” on landscape value.

At last week’s town council, Mr King said: “There is a degree of spun sugar in the arguments.

“They accept some adverse impact that I would contend is the key issue – that any impact on the landscape views from Startforth and of Startforth are an issue of objection.”

The bid to build on the land was turned down at Durham County Council’s south west area planning committee in March over fears it would have a harmful effect on the appearance of the area and the increased traffic from the homes. A report into the landscape impacts on behalf of the developer stated: “There will be a reduction in tranquillity and localised rural views from adjacent lanes.

“However, the wider influence of the development on the surrounding landscape is limited. Effects arise mainly from the spatial loss of separation – the perceptual loss from public locations is largely restricted to the two short stretches of road.”

The original application attracted a slew of objections from villagers.

Over the river, the town council objected on the grounds it impacted upon views from the castle.

A fresh town council report hit back at other claims in the appeal branding them “trivial and subjective”.

The council report added: “No additional detail is given about the scale and layout of the development, as these matters are reserved, yet the scale and layout are asserted to be material in assessing the lack of impact of the development on the landscape.”

Cllr John Blissett agreed with the report.

He added: “Also it’s the impact on the infrastructure as well.”