THE western approach to Darlington is going to change irrevocably as a result of planning permission for more than 1,500 homes being granted this week.

Given that both major political parties are now mad keen on house building, there may not have been much the council could have done to prevent the development which has been in the Local Plan for many years.

But it can, and must, lessen the impact.

Coniscliffe Park is to include a school and a GP’s surgery, but what about dentistry, given how hard it is for existing residents to get on a dentist’s books? And what about that peculiar statement from a planning officer about the road network: “We have got a lot of assurance that the network won’t be severely impacted.” Is that because Carmel Road is already gridlocked at rush-hour so even 3,000 cars can’t make it much worse?

How self-sufficient in energy are these new homes going to be, and what is the council’s strategy for connecting them by cyclepath? And will the 304 affordable homes really appear?

There is scepticism about the developers’ promises. The same meeting passed a plan for 44 homes at Blackwell Grange, which is a reasonable compromise as the old parkland is to be kept and enhanced. But a weirdly worded document has raised suspicions that more development is planned around the edges and that mature trees will be found to be in the way. Treegate harmed the last administration; surely the new one isn’t going to repeat those mistakes.

The council must be on the side of the people, pro-actively ensuring that proper public services are provided, ensuring that roads do not become snarled up, and protecting the existing environment. It must take the lead, not wait for traffic jams or fallen trees.

Passing a development of this size means that the justification for a garden village on greenfields, like the 4,000 home Skerningham, just became much harder to make.

READ MORE: PLANS FOR BLACKWELL PARKLAND AND 44 HOMES PASSED

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