THE owner of a grouse moor hopes to build a new helicopter pad to allow larger and heavier craft to land on the site.
Arago Limited is seeking permission to create a third pad at Moor Rigg, the operational centre of Bollihope Grouse Moor, near Frosterley.
The moor is located within the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is a site of special scientific interest.
In documents submitted with the application, planning agent Peter Ashworth, an architect and surveyor, said the layout had been designed to be as compact as possible to minimise visual impact, with existing buildings and planting providing screening.
He also highlighted how the grouse moor and its agricultural activities “provide valuable employment for local people in this sparsely populated area.”
The new pad, which will be built in accordance with the recommendations of helicopter manufacturers and the British Helicopter Advisory Board, will be for the use of the owner and his guests.
The public can comment online at durham.gov.uk until Wednesday, May 31.
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