Hedley Planning Services is submitting a planning application, on behalf of Bellway Homes, for the construction of 120 homes on former Wolsingham Steelworks, Wolsingham, County Durham, Durham Road, DL13 3HX.

The site comprises a large parcel of previously developed/brownfield land, previously occupied by Wolsingham Steelworks.  The site has been vacant for nearly 15 years with no prospects of being redeveloped until now. The existing site has unfortunately become an eyesore which detracts from the otherwise beautiful area of Wolsingham.

On this basis, Durham County Council granted outline planning permission for up to 151 new homes of mixed type and tenure in November 2022, meaning that residential development on this site has already been accepted.  As such, this current “Reserved Matters” application is seeking approval of the layout and appearance of the scheme. Bellway are looking to bring this site back to life to benefit the existing local community, offering high quality homes to the local area, including the provision of affordable homes and bungalows, and to improve the visual approach to Wolsingham along the A689.  Before the Reserved Matters Application is submitted to Durham County Council for consideration, we are seeking your thoughts and comments on the proposed development via our online questionnaire, in particular the design, landscaping and layout. Comments and feedback submitted will be collected and reviewed by the team.

Bellway have carefully considered all site features and constraints to create a high quality development, and have considered all relevant requirements of the outline planning permission.

The development proposals comprise of the following features:

• Attractive landscaping scheme and generous areas of public open space, accessible to existing residents of Wolsingham as well as new residents
• Generous separation distances to existing residential properties on Attwood Terrace and Durham Road
• Retention of the Public Right of Way through the site and improving walking experience for existing and new residents
• Attracting additional residents to Wolsingham resulting in additional spend in local shops, services and facilities, helping to sustain  the long term viability of businesses in Wolsingham and the surrounding area
• Provision of tree lined streets, to create an attractive public realm
• Provision of visitor parking bays throughout the scheme to reduce on street parking
• Sustainable homes – all plots will include Electric Vehicle Charging Points and Solar Panels
• Retention of existing office building fronting onto Durham Road, to be converted at a later stage by another party
• Provision of Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SUDS)  to manage surface water on the site and the surrounding area. SUDS are designed to slow water runoff before entering the watercourse. The system will reduce the risk of flooding by efficiently draining surface water and minimising pollution.

The 120 new homes will comprise of a wide mix of sustainable homes, including bungalows, affordable dwellings, as well as a mix of family homes. The proposed mix of homes is as follows:

• 12 “Affordable homes”- 2 Bedroom Homes
• 12 Bungalows, 2 Bedroom Homes
• 14 Detached, 3 Bedroom Homes
• 76 Detached, 4 Bedroom Homes
• 6 Detached, 5 Bedroom Homes

Your views are important and will be valuable as the proposal is taken forward

Please use the survey link below to provide your response to the public consultation. The feedback will be collated and shared with the team who will then address matters accordingly.

We respectfully request that feedback be returned by 30 June 2023.

Alternatively, please provide feedback:

By email: Sunny@hedleyplanning.co.uk
By telephone: 0191 580 5105
By writing to us at: Hedley Planning Services Unit 3, Hexham Enterprise Hub, Burn Lane, Hexham, NE46 3HY

About Bellway Homes

Creating dream homes built around you, for over 75 years. Bellway began as a small family business in 1946 – with a passion for building exceptional quality homes in carefully selected locations, inspired by the needs of real families. To this day, Bellway maintain these same core values, combining their decades of expertise with the level of personalised care that Bellway is known for. Bellway’s aim is to build beautiful, expertly crafted homes, which meet the needs of today and consider the demands of the future. Through a sustainable approach to people, communities, build materials and the environment, Bellway demonstrates that the future of the planet is as important to Bellway, as it is to you.