15 bungalows to be built near Strait Lane, Stainton

The 15-home development has been given the green light on land next to Montpellier Manor Care Home, off Strait Lane in Stainton, after Middlesbrough Council signed off the revised proposals.

Officer approval of these plans, a year after they were submitted, follows the formal refusal of 22 homes, which was confirmed in the last month – although it was reported a year ago that this affordable housing scheme had been ditched.

Of the 15 bungalows, five will have two beds, eight will be three bed properties and the remaining two will host four beds each.

The proposals will see nine detached properties and six semi-detached properties, which will be linked by their garages. The associated works proposed include the construction of highways, landscaping and drainage works, the officer report details.

The applicant, Eaglescliffe-based Wilson Homes, was evidently confident of approval, as JCBs were already on site, hoardings were up and initial works were undertaken prior to approval being granted.

Along with fencing around some of the site, advertisement on hoardings promises 'a bespoke development of 15 luxury bungalows, built to an exceptionally high standard'.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Steve Wilson, director of Wilson Homes responded to previously aired concerns about access to the site.

Mr Wilson said: “We have worked closely with Middlesbrough Council to come up with a scheme that allows for safe access to the site and the care home.

“We have worked alongside MHA [Montpellier Manor] care home in a scheme that sees a raised table entrance to reduce the speed of traffic from Strait Lane entering either the site or care home and this also controls speeds of vehicles leaving the site or care home.

“This section of the entrance is to be to council adoptable standards as is the new development’s internal access road. Along with highway upgrades we are also installing a new footpath that will give pedestrian access to the site from Strait Lane.”

Planning papers detail how approval of these bungalow plans is contingent on 16 conditions – one of these explains that the development cannot be brought into use until the areas for vehicle parking have been constructed.

On top of these many conditions, approval is also subject to a section 106 agreement – still under negotiation – seeking a financial contribution from the developer of £150,000 towards the provision of affordable homes in an “offsite location” within the town.

Lesser financial requirements as part of the section 106 agreement will see contributions towards the beck improvement scheme, local environmental improvement and a strategic highways contribution. 

In the officer report, the reason for approval describes the proposals as a 'sustainable development which will assist economic growth in the town', and planning officers believe that none of the material objections raised during the consultation process will result in a “significantly detrimental impact” on the character of the area, nearby residents, or the community as a whole.