The County Planning Committee is scheduled to consider a significant outline planning application for a new housing development in Coundon. The committee will also review the minutes from their previous meeting.

Outline Application for Housing Development at Land North And West Of 3 Westerton Road, Coundon

The most significant item on the agenda is an outline planning application for up to 156 new dwellings, including areas of open space, at Land North And West Of 3 Westerton Road, Coundon, DL14 8HF. This application seeks permission for the development, with all matters reserved except for access. The site is described as a greenfield site and is not currently allocated for housing in the County Durham Plan (CDP).

The report pack indicates that a substantial number of objections have been received from local residents, with 218 objections raised in response to the consultation exercise. Concerns raised by neighbours include the loss of open land, the scale of the development in relation to the village of Coundon, potential coalescence with the neighbouring settlement of Leeholme, and the failure to overcome previous reasons for refusal on a similar application for the site. Issues regarding landscape impact, highway safety, flooding, and the adequacy of existing infrastructure such as schools and healthcare services have also been highlighted.

The Council's Landscape Section has identified moderate harm to the local landscape, which conflicts with CDP Policies 6 and 39. Further concerns have been raised regarding the location of bus stops, leading to red scores at the Council's Design Review Panel, conflicting with CDP Policies 6 and 29.

However, the report also notes that the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is a key material consideration. Given that the Council cannot currently demonstrate a five-year housing land supply, a tilted balance is engaged, meaning permission should be granted unless the adverse impacts significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits. The benefits highlighted include delivering housing at a time of a housing land supply shortfall, the provision of affordable housing units (including accessible bungalows), and a significant increase in Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG).

The application is recommended for approval, subject to the completion of a legal agreement under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. This agreement would secure various contributions, including for affordable housing, increasing capacity at local schools and SEND schools, enhancing NHS GP surgery capacity, and improving public open spaces. A number of conditions are also proposed to manage aspects of the development, such as construction management, noise mitigation, drainage, ecology, and landscaping.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting

The committee is also scheduled to review the minutes of the meeting held on 4 February 2026. These minutes would typically confirm the accuracy of the record of discussions and any decisions made at that previous meeting.