Gleeson looks to add to County Durham stock

The council will consider the housebuilder’s 137-home development on land in Wheatley Hill village, with a recommendation to approve.

Pegasus supported the scheme, which has been designed by Acer Architectural.

Originally, Gleeson intended to build 143 homes on the site, which is to the north west of Quilstyle Road.

The application allocated 10% affordable housing, however the council’s recommendation to approve has said it would want 15% in the S106 agreement.

The 15-acre site is an agricultural field, surrounded by other fields, allotments, a football pitch, and housing to the south.

The proposed housing mix consists of 14 two-bed bungalows, 14 two-bed houses, 80 three-bed houses, and 29 four-bed houses, of two storeys.

Although the recommendation is to approve, a number of complaints have been made against the development, including from cllr Neil Craggs, a Reform member representing Thornley and Wheatley Hill, who said: “As a local councillor, my observations are grounded in real, lived experience and the concerns of those I represent.

“I do not accept that technical reports alone should outweigh local knowledge. When parents are struggling to secure school places for their children, or when queues are forming daily on minor roads, it is clear that real infrastructure pressure exists.

“Too often, developments are presented as sustainable on paper but fall short in practice. This proposal, in its current form, does not demonstrate sufficient regard for the cumulative impact on community services and infrastructure…

“I support sustainable development that is proportionate, properly planned, and supported by robust infrastructure. However, this proposal raises multiple unresolved concerns that must be addressed before any approval is considered.”