The County Planning Committee is scheduled to meet on 3 December 2025 to discuss several planning applications, including a solar farm, a housing development, and a community park. The committee will review reports and consider feedback from consultees and the public before making any decisions.

Here is what the report pack says will be included for discussion:

Planning Applications

Land South Of Wagtail Lane, Craghead

The committee will review an application for a ground-mounted photovoltaic solar development, including an electrical substation and associated infrastructure, on land south of Wagtail Lane, Craghead, DH7 0DT. The proposed solar farm would occupy 57.8 hectares of agricultural fields. Access for construction would be primarily from Green Lane, with a secondary access from Holmside Hall Road.

The application states that the solar farm is designed to achieve a target installed DC capacity of 40.2 MWp, representing an overplanting ratio of around 1.49 for a scheme that would be capped, via planning condition, to export no more than 27 MWac.

The report pack notes that a similar application, DM/22/01769/FPA, for a solar farm near Burnhope was previously quashed by the High Court because the Planning Committee did not consider if the proposed development could be delivered on a smaller site, with fewer panels.

The application states that the development would occupy the site for a temporary period of 50 years, after which the equipment would be removed and the land reinstated.

Third Street, Horden, Peterlee

The committee will consider a hybrid planning application for the demolition of existing buildings and the construction of 53 dwellings, with an outline application for up to 52 additional dwellings on Third Street, Horden, SR8 4LA. The application site is 2.8ha of previously developed land and open space within a residential area of Horden.

The detailed element of the scheme is proposed to deliver affordable housing (social rent) delivered by Durham County Council. The outline element of the scheme is anticipated to deliver market housing.

The report pack notes that the application is presented in the context of a Masterplan that proposes a wider regeneration of the numbered streets.

The application states that the proposed houses have been designed to respect the existing character of the area and take design cues from the existing houses including the proposed brick detailing.

Land West Of Gladstone Terrace

The committee will discuss an application for the construction of 99 dwellings and a community park and stride on land west of Gladstone Terrace. The application site comprises two agricultural fields and an access track adjacent to Stray Aid, an animal shelter.

The application includes a mix of two, three, four and five-bedroom houses, and ten two-bedroom bungalows. It also includes a community park and stride with 32 spaces for school staff and community use.

The report pack notes that Coxhoe Parish Council conditionally supports the application, subject to the developer agreeing to a S106 agreement¹ for additional school places at Coxhoe Primary School.

The report pack also notes that the Council's Education Department advises that a contribution of £106,062 for primary teaching accommodation is required to mitigate the impact of the development.

Other Business

The agenda also includes:

• Apologies for absence
• Any substitute members
• Any declarations of interest
• The minutes of the meeting held on 5 November 2025