750 homes approved at Burtree Garden Village in Darlington

The first phase of the Burtree Garden Village was rubber-stamped by Darlington Borough Council’s planning committee on Wednesday. 

A new access road, from Rotary Way to Burtree Lane, will be built alongside community facilities. 

The Burtree development, in Faverdale, will ultimately see 2,000 new homes built over 20 years. A new school, community centre, pub, and health facilities are also proposed. It will be built on old farmland near Burtree Lane, Faverdale Industrial Estate, and the A68.

How phase one of the Burtree Garden Village development could look (Image: Hellens Group)

However, residents and councillors criticised the lack of affordable homes in the initial application. 

Resident David Clark warned people are struggling to get onto the housing ladder. He said: “There should be 150 affordable homes, which would help, but I think we've only had 150 built in the last four years. We’re well behind the target. 

“We’ve got a need for affordable housing. As far as I'm aware, I don’t think we’ve had one government First Home built in Darlington. We’d like to see some affordable houses and First Homes.”

In response, David Coates, council planning manager, said: “Because of a viability issue it’s not going to be possible to secure affordable housing in the first instance.”

Other concerns from residents include the impact it will have on sewage treatment, flooding, and traffic and road infrastructure. 

Cllr Scott Durham, of Brinkburn and Faverdale ward, said the new road as part of the development is key to easing traffic issues on the A66 and A68. 

He said: “When this development was first proposed, we could see the real benefit of completing the circular link road across town and improving facilities in the area. 

“This development should ease the flow of traffic north west to east which a lot at the moment goes down the A68. If you want to travel from High Grange to Whinfield school that is a 30-minute journey.

“At times West Auckland Road is a car park. 

“The spine road on this development is key, and although residents are concerned with traffic, they understand how this will be alleviated. I'm concerned that until works are completed on the A66/Great Burden roundabout the northern part of this road at Burtree Lane will be closed.”

The Conservative councillor warned it could leave residents with a “road that goes to nowhere”. Green Party councillors Thomas Robinson and Richard Lawley voted to refuse the scheme alongside Conservative member Gerald Lee. 

But cllr Libby Mccollom said she believed the issues raised could be “adequately dealt with” by the responsible local authorities. 

The Labour councillor encouraged members to approve the application. “I understand fully that this does not sit well with colleagues, it’s not an easy application,” she said. “But what has been presented today, the discussion we’ve had, and the response from officers I feel comfortable to back the decision to approve.”

Property construction firm Hellens Group is working with Darlington Borough Council to develop the plans. 

The full-scale plans for the housing development (Image: Hellens Group)

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Burtree is the first of two garden village proposals in Darlington to be approved by the local authority. 

David Coates, head of planning, told the meeting: “This process has taken a long, some would say, torturous approach. It’s not just something that’s come out of the air, it’s a culmination of years of work.”

A decision on the remaining 1,250 homes will be decided in the future.