By Martin Walker
Developers are hoping to complete the last phase of the Cobblers Hall housing development after submitting plans to Durham County Council.
But the proposals won’t reach the council’s planning committee until April, Aycliffe Today has been told.
Keepmoat Homes want to build 182 new dwellings on the last plot of undeveloped land along Cobblers Hall Road, known as Site O.
Architect Darren Blake, of North Shields-based Blake Hopkinson Architecture, has this month submitted the plans to Durham County Council, and expect it to go to committee within the next 12 weeks.
“The residential units on the application site comprise a mixture of two, three and four-bedroom properties arranged through a mixture of terraced, townhouses, semi-detached and detached properties,” says the document.
“In this respect the size, type, scale and character of the proposed properties is similar to those in the surrounding areas and will contribute to the creation of sustainable communities.
“The layout of the proposed development includes a strong frontage onto Cobblers Hall Road, on the northern elevation of the application site with two points of vehicular access taken from the northern site boundary, on Cobblers Hall Road.
“The dwellings at both entrances have been set out to provide gateway features into the site with dual frontage units and landscaping forming the threshold into the development.”
The proposed development will include 10% of the properties to be fitted with a source of sustainable passive energy, which is likely to comprise roof-mounted photovoltaics (solar panels).
The application says Newton Aycliffe has been the focus for extensive residential growth within County Durham since its original designation as a New Town in 1947.
In 2000, the town’s population was in the order of 27,000 persons and continued to be the focus for significant residential growth.
“The Cobblers Hall area has been the primary focus for residential growth within the town since the site was originally allocated and subject to a Development Brief in 1992,” says the report.
“The Cobblers Hall area is now approaching completion, with Site O representing the final phase, and will provide a total of circa 800 residential dwellings once completed.
“Due to a variety of reasons, including the significant change in the housing market following the issue of the reserved matters consent, the permission has now time expired and is understood to not have been implemented.”
Aycliffe Today has today been in touch with Keepmoat Homes and Darren Blake, and we’ll endeavour to bring you details of the plans as they unfold.
See our pictures below which show the area of the proposed development.
