A council has been accused of trying to fast track one of Darlington’s largest urban developments by holding a key public survey during the festive period.

Darlington Council has launched its second round of public consultation on the draft Design Code for Skerningham Garden Village, in the north of the town, and is inviting residents to have their say on the plans. 

The ambitious proposal has been earmarked in the council’s Local Plan for housing and community facilities but has received a mixed reaction from residents, with hundreds joining a campaign to oppose the proposal.

Up to 1,650 houses and facilities such as a GP surgery and schools could be built up to 2036, and up to 4,500 could be built on the site beyond that period.

The Northern Echo: The Skerningham Garden Village would be a significant extension to DarlingtonThe Skerningham Garden Village would be a significant extension to Darlington (Image: The Northern Echo)

The design code sets out expectations about the look and feel of a development to make sure it reflects local character and the preferences of residents. Once agreed, it will then ensure that Skerningham Garden Village will be developed to a high-quality standard. It is the second time residents have been consulted on the design code after changes were made based on responses received in autumn 2022.

Yet the council has face criticism as the deadline for the latest survey ends on January 13 after starting close to Christmas.

Alan Macnab, a campaigner against the Skerningham proposal, wrote to the council saying: “It seems to me that by holding the consultation during the Christmas and New Year holiday period you are hoping that the response to the consultation will be poor and you can then continue to give the green light to the developers and the Tees Valley Mayor to destroy the beautiful Skerningham countryside, to ride roughshod over the views and sensibilities of residents and inflict this behemoth on the people here whose lives will be made immeasurably worse for no good reason.” 

The 170-page document includes meticulous details about the makeup of the area, but objectors say such a large extension of the town is not needed. In defence, the council says the garden village will not be a “sea of new houses”, rather a series of defined hamlets/clusters of houses with open areas between each, giving residents and visitors the chance to enjoy access to green spaces.

The Northern Echo: Planners have leant on the design of other similar developments around the UK for inspiration Planners have leant on the design of other similar developments around the UK for inspiration (Image: The Northern Echo)

Such a large development requires new amenities however, and residents are worried by how these will be delivered.

“Where are all the people going to go for a doctor’s or dentist appointment,” Mr Macnab said. “It sems to be that it will be alright on the night and they will suck it and see. Let’s be ambitious for Darlington but let’s be realistic and this is not realistic.”

There are also worries that the large support of campaign groups won’t be represented. Ralph Bradley added: “They are taking no notice of anything residents say.”

Others have criticised the council’s communication with residents on the contentious plans. Fred Greenhow said: “There was a lot of false promises and if they had been open and honest they would have got the residents on side.”

Comments on the proposal can be made here until January 13.

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 A Darlington Borough Council spokesman said: “Members of the public and stakeholders have been given a second opportunity to make comments on the Skerningham Design Code. During the first stage of consultation the council received 87 comments from 75 contributing consultees on the Skerningham Garden Village Design Code Draft Supplementary Planning Document.

“The second consultation period started on 15 December and will run until 13 January 2023. This gives ample time for members of the public to review and comment on the document.”