PLAYING fields on land at a former cement works site in Upper Weardale could be turned into a caravan park.

Developers are seeking permission to change the use of the former Blue Circle playing fields site which is part of the former Eastgate cement works, located to the west Eastgate, near Stanhope.

Applicant Eastgate Works, which owns the site, has submitted its plan to Durham County Council which would include the demolition of existing buildings on the site including the former leisure building, the Blue Circle Social Club.

The Blue Circle cement works was a major employer in Weardale and its closure, in 2002, was a devastating blow to the rural community.

Since its closure it has been subject to a number of planning applications, including most recently a major proposal for the creation of a renewable energy village presented as an opportunity for rural regeneration as a tourism and recreation facility.

The development scheme was approved in June 2010 and later renewed through an application for a non-material amendment in July 2014 and later in April 2016.

Now Eastgate Works is hoping to get the green light to press ahead with plans for a caravan park.

The majority of the proposed caravans would be located on the former cricket field which is a large area of open space to the east of the former works site.

According to the applicant the fields have not been used regularly since the 1980s.

Agent Saddington Taylor, on behalf of the applicant, states the park would be consistent and would reflect the characteristics of existing nearby sites.

These include Cragside Caravan Park, which lies to the northern side of Eastgate village and White House and Hagg Bridge Caravan Park, which lies on the east side of the village, on the north banks of the River Wear.

Writing in planning documents submitted to the council, the agent states: “Given the site is well contained by mature landscaping and is divorced from the nearest listed buildings, with significant landscape and built features between the site and the village, the proposals would not result in any significant adverse impact upon heritage assets.

“Furthermore, the proposals would introduce a form of development that is already represented in Eastgate and would therefore be consistent with the existing character of the village.

“The visual impacts of development would also be mitigated by additional new landscape planting to frame the development which would significantly reduce any visual effects.”

The consultation period for the plan ends on August 8.