The Area Planning Committee (South and West) of County Durham Council is scheduled to meet on Thursday 17 September 2026. The main item on the agenda is a proposal for the erection of 70 new dwellings and associated infrastructure at Land at Kitchen Avenue, Bishop Auckland.

New Housing Development in Bishop Auckland

The committee is set to consider a significant planning application for the erection of 70 new dwellings at Land at Kitchen Avenue, Bishop Auckland, DL14 6RB. The proposal, submitted by Gleeson Regeneration Ltd, includes a mix of housing types: seven two-bedroom bungalows, ten two-bedroom houses, thirty-eight three-bedroom houses, and fifteen four-bedroom houses.

The report pack indicates that the site, measuring approximately 2.56 hectares, was previously occupied by housing that was demolished following an approval in 2004. Since then, the area has been grassed over. The proposed development aims to provide a mix of housing sizes and types, including seven affordable homes to be secured via a Section 106 agreement. These affordable homes are proposed as Discount Market Sales, a form of affordable home ownership.

The application is being presented to the committee as it constitutes major residential development on a site under 4 hectares. The report details extensive consultation responses from various statutory consultees, including the Highway Authority, Drainage and Coastal Protection, Northumbria Water, and the NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board. Internal consultees such as the Affordable Housing Team, Ecology Section, and Education Authority have also provided feedback.

The report highlights that the site lies within Flood Zone 1, indicating a low probability of flooding. It also notes that part of the site is within a Coalfield Development High Risk Coal Area, with a coal mining adit and shaft identified nearby. The Coal Authority's concerns are addressed through proposed conditions.

The proposal is assessed against the County Durham Plan (CDP) and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Key policies considered include those relating to housing land supply, sustainable transport, design, amenity, ecology, drainage, and contaminated land. The report notes that the Council currently has a housing land supply of 3.92 years.

The application is recommended for approval, subject to conditions and the completion of a Section 106 legal agreement. This agreement would secure various contributions, including:

• 10% affordable housing provision on-site (7 Discount Market Sales).
• £110,187 towards improving public open space within the electoral division.
• £28,302 to compensate for the loss of 5.34 habitat units on site.
• £88,385 towards increasing Early Year (Nursery) capacity.
• £57,946 towards increasing SEND school capacity.
• £39,445 towards increasing NHS GP surgery capacity.

The report also outlines numerous conditions related to construction management, contaminated land, ground stability, drainage, trees, landscaping, boundary treatment, highways, sustainable development, and housing technical standards. These conditions aim to ensure the development is carried out safely, sustainably, and with minimal impact on the surrounding environment and community.

The report acknowledges that the site is not allocated for housing in the CDP but is considered for development under Policy 6, which permits development on unallocated sites within the built-up area if specific criteria are met. The report concludes that the benefits of the development, including the delivery of 70 homes, affordable housing, and contributions to local infrastructure, outweigh any identified harms.

The report also references the Council's previous decision-making regarding developments at Kynren, Flatts Farm, Toronto, Bishop Auckland, DL14 7SF, where two planning applications for new attractions were approved. This previous decision, detailed in the minutes of the meeting held on 16 July 2026, involved considerations of visitor numbers, ecological impacts, and community benefits.