Coundon residents launch campaign against housing development

In April, developer United Living revealed it wanted to build the new 184-property estate on green land in the ex-mining village of Coundon, County Durham.

Residents were quick to oppose the campaign setting up meetings and collecting more than 300 objections to the plans.

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Nicola Brown, one of those who has been campaigning against the development as part of the Save the Coundon, Leeholme and Westerton Township Field group, said: “The biggest things people are concerned about is congestion on the road network, public amenities and the sheer scale of it.

The development has seen more than 300 letters of objection handed in. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

“It’s really united the community and everyone has come together to campaign against it.

“The schools and dental practices in Bishop Auckland and the surrounding area are already oversubscribed. They’re saying they don’t have any more spaces for children and are at capacity every year.”

“The village has small roads which aren’t suitable for the amount of traffic going to be generated by the number of houses. There is the issue of highway safety and the school is just across the road from the from the development site entrance.”

The scheme includes a mix of one, two, three and four-bed homes including bungalows. Some will be sold while others will be for affordable rent or rent-to-buy.

The campaign has gathered hundreds of residents together in opposition to the plans. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Locals are also concerned the development is on an historically important site known as the Township Field, said to have been in use agriculturally since the 1100s and which may have links to Roman times.

One objector said: “The proposed development can be summarised in six words: ‘Too big, wrong place, not sustainable’.”

While another added: “The local views and beauty will be very obviously negatively affected, as well as a large swathe of grassland being removed that currently absorbs a large amount of rainfall, preventing the adjoining road from flooding.”

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The village currently has two primary schools with both understood to be fully enrolled and secondary students travel into Bishop Auckland.

United Living has previously held in-person consultation meetings with locals.

The developer previously said in a statement: “United Living New Homes are committed to ensuring any future development includes a positive response to the site’s assets and opportunities, including addressing any local issues, where possible.”