A PLANNING inquiry into a 430-home development in a County Durham town is entering its third day today.
The four-day inquiry into the application to build the housing estate on land between sections of Newton Aycliffe and Woodham Village started this week at The Work Place, on Aycliffe Business Park.
Since Tuesday Planning Inspector Hayden Baugh-Jones has heard from representatives of the applicant Wilmott Partnership Homes and Durham County Council (DCC). In february, 2017, the authority refused the proposal on the basis it would “result in transformative effects upon the character of the area and setting of Newton Aycliffe/Woodham resulting in significant adverse landscape harm to a valued landscape and designated green wedge (land)”. However, the applicant argues that the development represents “sustainable development” which would bring “significant economic, social and environmental benefits”.
On Tuesday the inspector heard from DCC’s landscape witness John Day while yesterday morning the appellant’s landscape witness Jeremy Smith gave evidence.
He was due to be followed by DCC’s principle policy officer Thomas Bennett and senior development management officer Colin Harding.
Today the appellant’s planning witness Douglas Bond will speak and a site visit will take place tomorrow.
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