New homes will be built on an historic Darlington parkland as part of a council scheme to redevelop the area. 

Councillors on Darlington Borough Council’s planning committee approved plans for the 44 homes in Blackwell Grange Parkland despite significant local opposition. 

The new housing estate will be built on part of the former Blackwell Grange golf course in an area known as the ‘Blands Corner Triangle’ and will consist of four, five and six-bedroomed homes. 

The main access point for the new estate is set to be from the A67 Carmel Road South.

The Northern Echo: The new housing estate will be built on part of the former Blackwell Grange golf course in an area known as the ‘Blands Corner Triangle’ The new housing estate will be built on part of the former Blackwell Grange golf course in an area known as the ‘Blands Corner Triangle’ (Image: Esh Homes) 

Responses from residents included 109 letters of objections and 11 letters of support. While the regeneration of the parkland was largely welcomed, many residents raised concerns about future development of the site beyond the initial 44 homes. 

Parkland heritage campaigner Michael Green repeated his concerns that the protected area could be in doubt due to further housebuilding. Part of the parkland, to the north of the proposed housing, is designated as a local wildlife site. 

Mr Green’s warning was echoed by dozens of residents and councillors, but planning officers assured members that the rest of the parkland would be protected from further housebuilding.

The new housing estate is part of a wider council ambition to restore the Georgian parkland around the Blackwell Grange Hotel by installing new trees and footpaths to create a ‘naturalistic’ space usable by the public. 

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Housing developer ESH Homes is in charge of the scheme following an agreement with the local authority. A statement read: “ESH Homes pledge to restore the park’s historic landscape, bringing heritage elements back into a good condition and re-enlivening the parkland to provide an attractive and accessible public space for Darlington Town.”

The proposal was approved despite an early bid to adjourn a decision until 2024. 

A Green Party motion to defer the meeting was voted down by five votes to four. Committee members and residents argued there wasn’t enough time to consider the proposal due to the alleged short notice of the meeting.