The County Planning Committee of County Durham Council met on Friday 10 January 2025 to determine several planning applications. Key decisions included the approval of a new housing development in Consett, the variation of conditions for a data centre at Aykley Heads, and the approval of two solar farms in Seaham and Stainton.

Proposed Development of 170 Residential Dwellings, Land East of Fern Dene, Knitsley Lane, Templetown

The committee approved the application for 170 residential dwellings, along with associated infrastructure and open space, on land east of Fern Dene, Knitsley Lane, Templetown. The development, proposed by Persimmon Homes (Durham), was granted planning permission subject to the completion of a legal agreement under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and Section 39 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. This agreement will secure various contributions and measures, including 10% affordable housing (17 units for affordable home ownership), £126,412 for offsite open space improvements, £534,864 for secondary education provision, £142,766 for SEND education provision, £82,110 for GP surgery capacity, £51,000 for improvements to the Sustrans National Cycle Network Route No. 14, £8,500 for Delves Lane Community Centre, and £34,000 for environmental or community schemes. Numerous conditions were also attached to the permission, covering aspects such as the commencement of development, adherence to approved plans, ecological mitigation, tree protection, surface water management, ground conditions, broadband connection, and construction management.

Variation of Conditions for Data Centre at Plot D, Land at Aykley Heads, Framwellgate Peth, Durham

The committee approved a variation of conditions for Plot D at Aykley Heads, Framwellgate Peth, Durham, to allow for the creation of a Data Centre and ancillary office space. This application, DM/24/02829/VOC, sought to vary conditions related to approved plans, floor space and use classes, travel plans, and ecology, pursuant to a hybrid planning permission granted in January 2021. The variation allows for an increase in the Gross External Area floorspace for the Data Centre to approximately 4,332 sq.m and a blanket building height of 3 storeys. The use class was updated to reflect legislative changes, and the travel plan condition was amended to exclude Plot D due to the nature of the proposed data centre use. The decision was made subject to numerous conditions, including adherence to approved plans, restrictions on total floorspace for certain uses, a change of use class restriction, construction hours, and details regarding car parking, cycle storage, and electric vehicle charging points.

Reserved Matters Submission for Data Centre at Plot D, Land at Aykley Heads, Framwellgate Peth, Durham

A separate reserved matters submission, DM/24/02888/RM, for the appearance, landscaping, layout, and scale of the Data Centre at Plot D, Aykley Heads, was also approved. This application detailed the design of a single building for the data centre, including main data hall, generators, delivery bay, office space, and meeting rooms. The building would be constructed using a portal frame with green walls and cladding, reaching a total height of 15m including rooftop plant and flues. Access would be from Aykley Heads Way, with associated car parking, cycle parking, and refuse storage. Conditions were attached to ensure adherence to approved plans, biodiversity net gain, highway safety, landscaping, and the implementation of a Battery Safety Management Plan.

Installation of Ground Mounted Photovoltaic Farm, Land West of Units 1-3, Admiralty Way, Seaham

The committee approved the installation of a ground-mounted photovoltaic farm with associated infrastructure, engineering works, access, and landscaping on land west of Units 1-3, Admiralty Way, Seaham. The solar farm, proposed by Enviromena Project Management UK Ltd, would generate approximately 8MW of electricity. The decision was subject to conditions including a five-year commencement period, notification of commencement, a 40-year operational period with a restoration plan, adherence to approved plans, ecological mitigation, a Construction Management Plan, construction hours, vehicle cleaning, details of above-ground structures, internal access road appearance, landscaping, archaeological investigation, and a Battery Safety Management Plan. A Section 39 Agreement was also required to secure biodiversity monitoring fees.

Construction of a Solar Farm, Land South-West of West Farm, Stainton

The construction of a solar farm of approximately 16MW, along with a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and associated infrastructure, on land south-west of West Farm, Stainton, was approved. The development, proposed by Farm Energy Company, aims to directly power the nearby GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) factory, providing around 52% of its energy demand and reducing its carbon footprint. The decision was made subject to conditions including a three-year commencement period (with a requested extension to five years), notification of commencement, a 40-year operational period with a restoration plan, adherence to approved plans, ecological mitigation, a Construction Management Plan, construction hours, road condition surveys, and a Battery Safety Management Plan. A Section 39 Agreement was also required to secure biodiversity monitoring fees.

The meeting also included the approval of minutes from the previous meeting held on 3 December 2024.