Almost 400 residents object to 600-home estate in Yarm

Not one public comment of support was left on controversial proposals from Taylor Wimpey for a mammoth new estate on the fields south of Green Lane.

Instead, a total of 390 residents publicly urged Stockton Borough Council to refuse the bid, citing concerns over infrastructure, traffic, and the environment.

The project has been met by backlash since the plans were first announced in June, and following a public consultation, is now in the hands of the council to approve or reject.

Objections against the plans surged - and more than doubled - in the final week of the consultation, with there only being around 180 comments as of July 28. 

The estate would be built off Green Lane (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

Taylor Wimpey, which argued the amount of housing is “relatively modest”, previously said it "understands the importance of listening to the community" and would “consider all feedback”. 

A spokesperson said: "We would like to thank the local community for their feedback on our plans for the proposed development off Green Lane in Yarm.

"The feedback received was considered ahead of the submission of our outline planning application to Stockton Borough Council.”

Concerns about the proposals followed a similar vein as previously reported, with residents arguing the town and its amenities are already being “stretched to the limits”.

Here is a selection of comments of objection: 

• The proposed housing development in Yarm is not just unnecessary, it's completely reckless. 
• Yarm is already under strain from recent housing developments, and the addition of hundreds more households would only worsen existing issues. GP practices are already struggling to meet demand.
• Yarm has already changed beyond recognition during the ten years we have lived here. 
• A further 600 homes will bring more than 1,000 cars into an already overburdened traffic system, it is unrealistic to say that this will not have an effect.
• This is not a case of “blocking” development for the sake of it, it is a demonstration of real concern for the town, our farmland, our countryside and the integrity of our historical cultural locations.
• The infrastructure of Yarm has not been considered, no improvement plan is being put forward to alleviate the heavy demand placed on GP's dentists, schools and transport.
• The proposed plan of 600 houses opposite an already busy and built up area, an area that is often gridlocked with traffic is ridiculous. 
• Yarm cannot take all these new estates: the infrastructure is not able to cope. In particular the schools, doctors, dentists are just not there.
• Yarm is seriously overburdened by excessive development often in green spaces, sometimes on covenanted green belt land. Yarm cannot be expected to take any more.
• Congestion at the Shell garage roundabout is dreadful at peak times leading to tailbacks on all roads. The traffic going into Yarm is chaotic at peak times and causes total gridlock. 
• How can this possibly be considered? The local infrastructure is crumbling under the heave of congestion. 
• I don't want to see the irreversible destruction of what little countryside we have left. The houses are not needed and the area does not have infrastructure to support them.
• Getting an appointment at the local GP surgery is becoming increasingly difficult. Queues of people, of all ages, are often seen from 7.30am, come rain or shine, waiting for it to open at 8am to get appointments. Can it handle another 1000 plus residents?

As previously reported, Taylor Wimpey’s public consultation earlier this year did little to settle the frustration, with some branding the proposals as “the straw that broke the camel's back.”

Official plans were then lodged, revealing the estate would boast a mix of two, three, four, and five bedroom homes, the majority being two storey, and up to 120 affordable homes.

Plans for the estate (Image: P+HS ARCHITECTS / TAYLOR WIMPEY)

Key aspects include two new signalled junctions from along Green Lane, one opposite the entrance to Kirk Road and another opposite Glaisdale Road. 

The two entrances will create a loop road, providing a potential bus route, and the junctions will be used to create safe crossing points connecting to the rest of Yarm.

The 54 hectare site will see Hutchinson Hobbs Farm Shop & Butchers remain - although Yarm Driving Range will not be retained under these first set of plans. 

However, the driving range remains open as normal, and The Northern Echo understands that it has no plans to close at this time. 

You can read the full story on the new plans here.

Stockton West MP Matt Vickers continues to argue that Yarm is being treated as a “cash cow” - and that new developments are “creating unbearable pressure on services and infrastructure.” 

Matt Vickers and Yvonne Wallace (Image: MATT VICKERS)

He urged residents to take action on July 31 - the deadline for the public consultation - saying housebuilding in Yarm is “completely out of control”.

Mr Vickers also met with the ‘Save Yarm’ campaign lead Yvonne Wallace last month, who is heading up the drive to stop all housebuilding in the sprawling town. 

The group has seen around 3,000 people support the fight to stop the “final straw" estate.