The County Planning Committee met on Wednesday 8 July 2026 to discuss three planning applications. The committee approved the construction of a battery energy storage system near South Hetton, but refused a solar park proposal near Seaham due to its Green Belt location. They also approved the removal of a condition requiring highway improvements for a housing development near Iveston.

Battery Energy Storage System Approved Near South Hetton

The committee approved the construction and installation of a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on land east of Carrs Farm, South Hetton. The development, proposed by REWE 8 Ltd, will include 98 battery containers, a high-voltage substation, and associated infrastructure, covering 9.79 hectares. Despite significant public objection concerning landscape impact, safety risks, and loss of agricultural land, the committee found the proposal acceptable in principle. Officers highlighted the strong policy support for low-carbon infrastructure and the benefits to energy security and the transition to net zero. While acknowledging moderate adverse landscape and visual impacts, and some harm to residential amenity and a non-designated heritage asset, these were deemed acceptable in the planning balance. The decision was subject to conditions including a Biodiversity Net Gain monitoring fee of £4,825, secured via a Section 106 agreement.

Solar Park Near Seaham Refused

The committee refused planning permission for a solar park on land east of Stockton Road, Seaham, which straddles the boundary between County Durham and Sunderland City Council. The proposed development, by Elements Green Renewables SPV 004 Ltd, would have comprised ground-mounted solar photovoltaic panels and associated infrastructure across 81.56 hectares. The application was refused primarily because it was considered inappropriate development within the Green Belt, causing significant harm to its openness and integrity. Despite acknowledging the benefits of renewable energy generation, the committee concluded that these did not clearly outweigh the harm. Further reasons for refusal included unacceptable harm to the character and quality of the landscape, including the setting of the designated Heritage Coast, and an unacceptable impact on residential amenity through visual intrusion and dominance.

Highway Improvement Condition Removed Near Iveston

The committee approved an application to remove condition 10 from a previous planning permission (DM/24/03205/VOC) for a housing development on land north-east of Explorer House, Iveston Lane, Iveston. The condition had required off-site highway improvements at the Delves Lane/Gloucester Road roundabout before the occupation of the 113th dwelling. Miller Homes North East, the applicant, provided updated capacity assessments for the roundabout, which indicated it operates within acceptable thresholds without the need for mitigation. The Highway Authority confirmed the robustness of the new evidence and raised no objection to the removal of the condition. Local Councillor Kenny Hope had called the application in due to resident concerns about highway safety at the roundabout, but the committee accepted the Highway Authority's assessment. Other highway-related conditions from the original permission were reimposed or confirmed as having been complied with.