Five new homes in Staindrop approved by Durham County Council

Durham County Council’s planning committee approved plans for five properties on land near St Gregory Close in Staindrop. 

Matthew Houghton, the applicant, said the homes will be a mix of three and four-bedroom properties.

But Staindrop Parish Council joined nine others in objecting to the plans after raising concerns about the local landscape, impact on current residential amenity, flooding, and infrastructure capacity. 

“There is already permission for a large number of new houses in Staindrop and the impact of two significant developments upon resources within the village is unknown,” parish councillors said. 

An objection letter added: “The approval would represent another missed opportunity to provide affordable housing for local people. This is what the village needs, rather than ‘executive style’ housing. 

“The house designs lack innovation and style and are inappropriate for Staindrop.”

Mr Houghton said he has worked closely with the council’s planning department to ensure the scheme is sensitive to the area and delivers high-quality housing. 

He added: “We are mindful of recent large housing schemes in Staindrop and Barnard Castle that have upset local people, but what we offer is something different to that. The benefit of small, local builders and developments is that we can provide more bespoke and interesting houses with much less visual impact, using local materials and contractors. 

“Not only are the houses an attractive and different product, but the construction phase delivers a serious benefit to the local economy.”

Despite the successes of Staindrop Primary School, Mr Houghton said it currently has to advertise further afield for pupils, and the new housing will boost local services in the village. 

He added: “Supporting local small-scale builders in their endeavours will reduce reliance on volume housebuilders to deliver the much-needed housing to achieve the council’s targets, and in doing so will result in much greater benefits to the local economy.”

Members of Durham County Council’s planning committee unanimously supported the application.