Plans for 250-home housing development rejected

Proposals for a huge housing development near Hetton have been thrown out by planning bosses.
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In 2019, plans were submitted to Sunderland City Council to build up to 250 homes near South Lodge Farm.

A decision on the application from Gladman Developments Ltd was due to be made in early 2020 but this was delayed, with a time extension agreed.

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This week, the scheme was finally presented to the council’s Planning and Highways (West) Committee for decision.

Plans were submitted to Sunderland City Council to build up to 250 homes near South Lodge FarmPlans were submitted to Sunderland City Council to build up to 250 homes near South Lodge Farm
Plans were submitted to Sunderland City Council to build up to 250 homes near South Lodge Farm

The outline application aimed to establish the principle of development on the site, with access proposed via two points off North Road, and other details such as design, scale and layout reserved until a later stage.

According to planning documents, homes of “varying sizes, types and tenures” would be provided, including a proportion of affordable housing.

However, the plans failed to win favour from council planners who recommended the application for refusal.

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The main issues included the development undermining the ‘settlement break’ between Hetton-le-Hole and East Rainton/Middle Rainton and the housing undermining the ‘green infrastructure network.’

Hetton Town Council also objected to the development raising similar concerns, alongside fears about highway safety, public transport and increased pressure on school places and NHS facilities.

During a planning meeting on March 2, which was held via videolink and broadcast on YouTube, planners confirmed the application could not be supported as it was “deficient in supporting information” on key issues.

This included archaeology, highway arrangements, ecology and biodiversity matters, such as potential impacts on the Hetton Bogs Local Nature Reserve.

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In a report prepared for councillors, planners said the housing would “not assist with regeneration of the urban area of the city by virtue of the site’s location away from the established urban area.”

The planning reports adds: “In the absence of sufficient supporting information, the local planning authority cannot have any certainty that the proposal will not adversely affect highway and/or pedestrian safety.

“Nor can it have confidence that the access and car parking arrangements for the proposed dwellings will be acceptable in accordance with adopted council policy.”

Proposals to reject the application were unanimously backed by councillors on the Planning and Highways (West) Committee without comments or debate.

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For more information on the application, visit https://online-applications.sunderland.gov.uk/online-applications and search planning reference 19/01319/OUT

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