Banks proposes High Shincliffe housing 

The housebuilder has its eye on land to the south east of the County Durham village, close to the Leamside Line route.

Working alongside Pegasus Group, Banks has submitted plans for 77 homes called Whitwell Acres, 35% of which would be affordable.

The housing mix would include a number of bungalows and all properties would be fitted with air source heat pumps and EV charging points.

Banks is hoping to gain approval later this year and start on site by summer 2028.

The land is currently classed as Green Belt, with Banks hoping to move it into Grey Belt designation, with its main arguments being that High Shincliffe is not a built up town but rather a small village, and the council’s need to prove a five-year housing supply.

The company has also recently submitted planning applications for a new development at Redmarshall near Stockton, which would see around 75 family homes being built on a site to the south of the village, and a further development on the south eastern edge of Sedgefield, which would include around 50 new homes.

Kate Culverhouse, community relations manager at the Banks Group, says: “The sustainable, contemporary new homes that we’re looking to build at High Shincliffe would give more local people and families a greater opportunity to stay in the area while also delivering a substantial range of economic, social and environmental benefits.

“This site has excellent public and sustainable transport links with both Durham City and the surrounding area, while it is also close to essential services in High Shincliffe and Bowburn, and we’re confident that there will be strong demand for the new homes that we’re looking to build.

“We’re very pleased to have reached this landmark in the progression of our plans for Whitwell Acres and hope the members of the County Council’s planning committee will recognise their quality and suitability when they come to consider them later in the year.”