Plans for '100% affordable housing' scheme in Bishop Auckland

Developer Oaktree Living has submitted plans for 19 homes in Bishop Auckland, two years after an initial planning application was refused. 

Land to the east of Holdforth Crescent, off South Church Road, has once again been outlined for the development of bungalows and multi-storey homes.

Durham County Council’s planning committee unanimously refused an initial application in November 2023, criticising the lack of affordable housing and design of the proposal. 

Now, a new proposal details plans to ensure all 19 homes are marketed as affordable units. The proposed scheme will make a “valuable contribution to housing delivery in Bishop Auckland,” Oaktree Living said. 

Planning officers at Durham County Council said the previous proposal failed to explain how it would tackle potential flooding issues, while the proximity to the nearby Weardale Railway was seen as a risk. 

But Oaktree Living said the latest plans meet local planning policies. 

A statement added: “The development has been carefully designed to respond to the site’s context and topography, incorporating areas of usable open space and ensuring a high standard of layout and design. Technical matters including highways, drainage, flood risk, ecology, trees and nutrient neutrality, have been addressed.

“The proposed housing mix includes four bungalows, which are specifically intended to meet the needs of older people. This provision exceeds the policy requirement for at least 10% of dwellings on sites of 10 or more units to be designed for older persons.”

Durham County Council will consider the planning application in due course.