Sunderland City Council’s planning and highways committee this week refused plans for land at Mulberry Way in the city’s Houghton ward.

Persimmon Homes were seeking permission for 58 homes with “associated access, landscaping, open space” and a “sustainable urban drainage system.”

During a council consultation exercise there was significant public opposition, with around 122 formal objections and a 151-signature petition.

Public concerns listed in a council report included loss of greenspace,  highway safety, flood risk, wildlife impacts and the developer’s “violation of previous planning promises.”

The site formed part of a larger development granted in 2001 which included a condition which developers Persimmon “failed to fulfil”, council documents state.

A council report said developers were now “immune” from council enforcement action due to the time that had passed but noted developers “wished to mitigate the failure to provide children’s open space/informal recreation area and meadow space offsite”.

However, council planners said it was “premature” to consider housing plans until the “outstanding issue” had been addressed, adding the new application  would “result in a loss of open play space for existing residents of the adjacent estate.”

The application came before the planning and highways committee on Monday (March 30) and planning officers recommended the housing be refused.

Reasons included the historic play park issue, access worries and concerns about flood risk and ecology assessments.

Members of the public and Houghton councillors John Price and Mark Burrell spoke against the plans at City Hall.

A planning agent for Persimmon also requested the “gift of time” to address planning issues and agree details of improvements to the nearby Keir Hardie Park.

Councillors later voted to refuse the housing plans, however the decision can be appealed.

A Persimmon Homes spokesperson said it was disappointing that developers had “not been able to find a way forward” with the council to “deliver much needed new housing”.

They said they had engaged with local councillors and residents on plans to “invest in the play park at the nearby Keir Hardie Park” and added it was “disappointing that time has not allowed for these plans to be presented and for the other matters to be resolved.”

For more information, visit the council’s planning portal website and search for reference 25/01316/FUL

It brings the total number of arrests in connection with the disorder to 17.

Four more people have been arrested in connection with disorder among Rangers and Celtic fans at Ibrox Stadium.

Ugly scenes broke out following the Scottish Cup Final on Sunday, March 8. It saw flares fired into the midst of fans, while supporters, police officers and those working at the stadium came under attack.

A steward was seen being carried from the pitch, believed to have been injured in the chaos, and a number of people were pictured receiving medical treatment. The most recent arrests bring the total number to be made under the operation to 11.

Following the match, Celtic striker Tomáš Čvančara, who scored the winning penalty for his side, was interviewed for TV wearing a blood-stained shirt. He had been photographed intervening in an incident on the field. A member of Celtic’s coaching staff was also reportedly attacked. There was also violence outside of the stadium following the game.

Operation Moonglint was subsequently launched by Police Scotland to trace those responsible. Police have confirmed four further men, aged 20, 26, 30 and 47, were arrested and charged and have been released on an undertaking to appear at court at a later date.

It brings the total number of arrests in connection with the disorder to 17.

Police say inquiries to trace those responsible are ongoing.

Detective Chief Inspector David Lamont said: “Extensive inquiries remain ongoing to identify and trace those involved. We will ensure those involved in acts of violence and disorder will face the consequences of their actions that day. Further arrests will be made.”

Anyone with information can call 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Information can also be sent directly to the investigation team.

The Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP) is a website that gives the public access to a form to pass information, images and footage directly to the Major Investigation Team and can be accessed here: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/SCOT26G03-PO1

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Lamerd, a town in southern Iran, came under attack on 28 February. CCTV footage published by Iranian state media – which was authenticated and geolocated by BBC Verify – showed a munition moments before it exploded above a residential area. Experts identified it as likely being a US missile, based on its appearance, the size of the blast and the distance from potential US launch sites in the Middle East.

The vacant plot of land off Kestor Street in The Haulgh formerly housed Bolton Parish Primary School before they moved to their current school on Chadwick Street.

A design and access statement submitted by RA Design and Project Management said that “existing access into the site is tight” and “a dropped kerb will make access easier in the future”.

They continued: “There is no firm plan for the site but several prospective future users have commented that the access is too narrow”.

They have proposed dropping the kerb and widening the entry gate to make the site easier for future occupiers to use.

Bolton Council’s town planning officers agreed with the proposal which they said “would not have any significant impact upon the visual amenity of the area”.

In their report, they said the area is predominantly in commercial and industrial use “with commercial fencing visible along Kestor Street”.

Officers were called to Northumberland Road on Thursday (April 2) at around 3.30am. 

A cordon was erected as white-suited investigators probed the semi-detached home later on Thursday, with pictures showing how the property had two smashed windows. 

No injuries were reported during the incident, although people were inside at the time. 

Cleveland Police has today (Friday, April 3) confirmed no arrests have yet been made and the investigation remains ongoing. 

(Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

Crime scene investigators were seen wearing white suits with blue masks and gloves on Thursday within one of three police cordons set up along the road. 

The road was fully blocked off at the junction with Thornaby Road, where an officer was standing guard beside a police van. 

Detective Chief Inspector Chris Pringle, from Stockton CID said: “At 3.30am on Thursday, April 2, police received reports of a firearm being discharged towards a property on Northumberland Road in Thornaby.

“While occupants were inside the property at the time, there were no injuries reported.

“Enquiries are ongoing and anyone with information, dash cam or doorbell footage is asked to call Cleveland Police on 101 quoting reference number 060930.”

The wind alert will now be in place until 7am on Easter Sunday, with the forecasters warning of possible disruption across Darlington and County Durham over the weekend.

Storm Dave will move in towards the North East during Saturday evening (April 4), bringing gusts of up to 50 to 60 mph and up to 60 to 70 mph in more exposed locations.

The spell of very strong winds later on Saturday and overnight into Sunday morning could lead to damage and travel disruption.

Where will be affected?

The yellow weather warning runs from Saturday 5pm until Easter Sunday 7am (extended from Saturday evening) and applies to the following areas in the North East, including:

· Darlington
· Durham
· Gateshead
· Newcastle upon Tyne
· North Tyneside
· Northumberland
· South Tyneside
· Sunderland

Forecasters rate the potential impact of the weather warning as medium, with the likelihood of the disruption being “very low.”

The Met Office said: “A rapidly deepening area of low pressure, Storm Dave, is likely to move North Eastwards close to or across northwestern parts of the UK during Saturday evening and night, clearing to the North Sea by Sunday.

“While there is some uncertainty over the exact track, intensity and shape of this area of low pressure, a period of strong west to south-westerly winds is expected during Saturday night and into the first part of Easter Sunday, before gradually easing through the day.

“Peak gusts of 50-60 mph will be possible fairly widely, with 60-70 mph in more exposed locations.”

‘The design of the development will create a vibrant neighbourhood with strong connections to the local community’

Plans are under consideration to build over 200 houses in a sleepy Welsh village. Developer BDW Trading Ltd has lodged an application with Vale of Glamorgan Council to build 232 houses and a foodstore that could be as large as 20,000 sq ft on Church Farm in St Athan.

The development would feature a mix of one, two, three and four-bedroom properties. These properties would be split into 150 homes for the open market, 54 social rented units and 28 “low-cost home ownership units”.

The application reads: “The development has been structured around a clear street hierarchy and integrated network of green infrastructure and public open spaces to create a high-quality and inclusive residential environment” For the biggest stories in Wales first sign up to our daily newsletter here

The affordable homes on site are located throughout the development, “providing integration with the open market housing”.

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Planning documents read: “The proposals make efficient use of the site by providing much needed market and affordable homes, in addition to a new foodstore.”

It continues: “The design of the development will create a vibrant neighbourhood with strong connections to the local community.”

The documents also outline that a total of 498 private car parking spaces will be provided, with the numbers per plot ranging from one to three depending on “dwelling size”

There will also be 48-off carriageway visitor parking spaces.

Four-hundred metres of hedgerow are proposed to be removed as well as 12 small hawthorn trees to make way for the development.

In return, a total of 200 trees are proposed to be planted across the development in addition to 600m of hedgerow, over 500sq m of “native shrub planting” and over 3,500sq m of native grassland and wildflowers.

The application reads: “The development includes the creation of several open spaces and green corridors within the site.

“This includes three large open spaces, with two primarily focusing on formal and informal play and the larger space combining informal play, biodiversity and sustainable drainage systems use.”

Regarding the proposed foodstore, the application reads: “Given the limited food retailing options within St Athan currently, the proposed foodstore would make a significant contribution to the settlement as a whole and reduce longer journeys by private car to other foodstores further afield.”

It continues: “The provision of a food store will have significant sustainability benefits and have the potential to create a range of new employment opportunities.”

In its latest operational update, the Ministry of Defence said RAF Regiment gunners downed multiple Iranian drones overnight, while UK Typhoons and F-35 jets, together with Wildcat helicopters, continued their defensive missions over Cyprus, Jordan, Qatar, UAE, and Bahrain.

Police responded to reports that a man had been hit by a vehicle between junctions 3 and 4, in the early hours of the morning.

Police were called to the scene at around 2.25am.

Emergency services attended, but the 24-year-old man died at the scene.

Officers are continuing to investigate the full circumstances of his death.

The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene and no arrests have been made.

Officers are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.

They are particularly keen to hear from anyone with dashcam footage from around the time of the collision.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 or via the Live Chat service at gmp.police.uk, quoting log 313 of 03/04/2026.

After nearly half a century of quiet village life, residents in Halkyn claim the atmosphere around them has shifted dramatically. Locals living near a £1.6 million luxury holiday property in Flintshire claim noise and anti-social behaviour from visitors has disrupted what was once a peaceful rural setting.

However, the owners of the Old Church School insist they have taken every reasonable step to address neighbours’ concerns – resulting in a deadlock between both parties.

Guy Roberts, who resides with his wife and elderly father in the adjacent Old School House, claimed loud music and lighting continuing into the early hours of the morning, along with visitors celebrating in the rear garden of the 24-bed establishment, had destroyed the peaceful rural setting since it began welcoming guests in October, 2025.

“It’s simply not a suitable use for a property in this village,” Mr Roberts claimed. “When planning went in for a holiday let we thought that was what it would be, but it is almost like a venue.

“We have lived here for 46 years and this has changed the character of the place. I’m a truck driver, my wife is self-employed and has to work early so we need our rest. The noise is so bad my dad, who is deaf, is bothered by it.”, reports North Wales Live.

“We’ve tried to speak to the landlord, he agreed to put a device on the sound system to cut it off at 11pm but said he can’t stop guests bringing their own, which they are now doing.

“Also, the music is often on all day. It seems to be that people are coming for parties at the weekend rather than peaceful week-long holidays.

“They are out in the hot tub at all hours of the day and night and we can’t seem to get anywhere. We have reported it to the police but they can’t do anything and Flintshire County Council have set up equipment to monitor the noise but it is driving us crazy.

“We are not even in peak season yet so goodness knows what it will be like then.”

Mr Roberts has since sought the assistance of Brynford and Halkyn Cllr Fran Lister in finding a resolution.

“It’s clearly very distressing,” she said. “I remember when this went through planning as a holiday let and we had no objections as long as it’s not too noisy for the neighbours.

“It’s not fair that the neighbours are feeling this impact.” Make sure you never miss Wales’ biggest updates by getting our daily newsletter

However, a spokesperson for Halkyn Estates Ltd, the company running the property, stated that it had been taking residents’ complaints on board and working towards solutions.

“This was a Grade II Listed building that was falling into disrepair,” he said. “We spent £1.6 million to buy the building and refurbish it – preserving it for the community.

“We even included original artefacts, furniture and school photos from when it was a school in the interior.

“We have done everything by the book and I understand the problems residents have. We appreciate the issues around noise which is why we installed a shut-off system.

“We operate a number of properties and this is already a very popular one. We want to be part of the community and work with residents to resolve any issues because ultimately we want the tourism we bring to Halkyn to enhance the area.

“Guests are advised to be considerate of our neighbours and to ensure noise is kept down during unsocial hours.

“Our investment in the Old Church School has brought it back into use in a sustainable way. Between being a school and a holiday let the site was for some time a factory and when we bought it it still had planning classification as one.

“That would have created a lot more noise. We understand that our neighbours have concerns and we would welcome the opportunity to work with them to find a solution that suits everybody.”