Housing estate refused over heritage loss fears

Residents raised concerns over highway safety, flooding and infrastructure capacity

Plans to build 156 homes as part of a £20.7m housing estate project have been refused over concerns it would "destroy" a village's link to its heritage.

Durham County Council turned down the estate, planned for land near Westerton Road, in Coundon, Bishop Auckland, after it said it received hundreds of objections.

Partner Construction wanted to build a mix of apartments, bungalows and multi-bedroom houses, on 10.6 hectares (26 acres) of greenfield land.

But residents raised concerns that building there would "destroy the open countryside character" of the field, which dates back to 1843.

Morris Dixon, a Coundon resident, said the Township field is located on a steep, prominent slope, visible for miles.

"This is not just any field, this is a rare example of medieval strip farming still being worked today," he said.

"These strips of land parcels are part of Coundon's history and identity. Losing them would erase an irreplaceable link to our heritage. This field is the reason for our village name, 'Cow on the Hill'."

'Landscape harm'

A total of 532 objections were submitted to the Reform UK-led council, with concerns over highway safety, flooding and infrastructure capacity, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

In a meeting on Wednesday, Reform UK's Kate Rowland, councillor for Shildon and Dene Valley, said the proposal conflicted with several planning policies and would "fundamentally change the open character of the site".

Alistair Willis, a planning agent speaking on behalf of the applicant, said it recognised concerns but the scheme would increase affordable housing in the area by delivering 15% on-site against a policy requirement of 10%.

However, Liberal Democrat councillor Mark Wilkes said: "Other parts of this area are crying out for development and improvement first.

"Right now, the landscape harm that we have here is just way too much."