Plans for hundreds of new homes in Darlington have taken a step forward after further details about the large-scale scheme were approved. 

Darlington Borough Council’s planning committee approved the latest proposal for 475 homes on land north of Coniscliffe Road at a meeting on Wednesday. 

A mix of two, three and four-bed homes will be built across the site. Provisional details for the site, which included building 535 homes, received planning permission in May. 

However, the number of homes has now been reduced due to site constraints and planning policy requirements, the applicant Taylor Wimpey said. The latest reserved matters proposal included details on the development’s appearance, access, landscaping, layout, and scale. 

Plans for hundreds of new homes in Darlington have taken a step forward after further details about the large-scale scheme were approved. Plans for hundreds of new homes in Darlington have taken a step forward after further details about the large-scale scheme were approved. (Image: ELG Planning)

The planning committee meeting was told the new estate would consist of “475 high-quality, market-affordable houses including extensive open space”. 

However, some residents shared their concerns over school places, shops, GP practices, traffic management on Coniscliffe Road, and disposal of sewage and surface water.

One resident, who spoke at the meeting, said: “The whole area in which I live, Humemrsknott and Coniscliffe, is going to be marooned. We’re not going to be able to get out from where we live. The traffic is already dreadful. At peak times it is backed up on Carmel Road and Coniscliffe Road. It will be truly dreadful.”

The Baydale Beck area, next to where the homes will be built, is popular with dog walkers. 

The resident added: “This whole area, for which we pay a lot of council tax, is going to be really adversely affected by noise from building. Do we really have to build on agricultural land? There are plenty of brownfield sites around Darlington. It will be completely detrimental to this area. 

“Very very few people have said they support this. Everybody I have spoken to is worried and angry about it and their life is going to change. If this goes ahead you will be damaging so many of the people who live in my area.”

The council reiterated the initial stages of the proposal had already been approved, yet residents still criticised the ambiguity around the plans. “It’s a very tricky meeting because it doesn’t make sense to normal people,” said Mowden councillor Pauline Culley. 

Up to 95 of the homes will be marketed as ‘affordable’, but councillors questioned why there are no bungalows to cater to an ageing population. Councillor Gerald Lee said: “I’m disappointed with the size of the houses. I think this would have been a nice opportunity to do something different.”

But in moving to approve the scheme, councillor Libby McCollom said: “There is a reasonable mix of housing, the overall landscape really fits the bill. It’s contemporary housing, it meets our needs, and it will be of a good standard. It would be remiss of us not to accept this.”