Opposition mounts to Taylor Wimpey’s Yarm proposal
Lodged at the start of July, outline plans for 600 homes have already seen around 400 objections registered with Stockton-on-Tees Council.
ELG Planning, TPM Landscape and P+HS Architects are key advisors on the proposals to bring up to 600 dwellings to land south of Green Lane, on the south-eastern edge of Yarm.
At present, the 133-acre site is made up largely of agricultural fields, paddock land and a driving range. As set out in ELG’s planning statement, the intention is that the existing farm shop and associated driving range buildings will be retained as part of the development and have been excluded from the application site.
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In planning terms, this is an edge-of-settlement location adjacent to the built up extent of Yarm, with housing already present directly north of the site beyond Green Lane.
The site’s western boundary is formed by an existing farm and its associated buildings, and beyond the local access road, HMP Kirklevington Grange, whilst the southern boundary adjoins the countryside with a number of large houses located to the east.
Planning records show that a previous application for 200 homes was withdrawn in 2019, prior to which consent for a full 18-hole golf course and facilities had twice been granted.
Stockton has acknowledged a need to update its local plan, while ELG states that at the time of its calculations, the borough can demonstrate only a 4.33-year housing supply – below, but not parlously so, the crucial five-year mark all councils seek to maintain.
ELG said it is envisaged the market housing at the site would be of two to five bedrooms, “in one of the strongest housing market areas in the borough”.
The project could deliver 120 affordable homes within the scheme, with the consultancy declaring this another area it can aid Stockton’s delivery in an area where it is falling short, with only 617 affordable homes delivered since 2017, according to ELG.
Against all that, for the day when councillors come to consider the application, is a weight of public opinion that has seen hundreds of objections lodged within a month – although on Place’s reading, it should be noted some objectors have contributed more than once.
Not uncommonly in such cases, points raised in opposition are over-development, pressure on traffic and local services, and loss of open space.
The Yarm area is very much in the crosshairs of residential developers and land promoters. Durham-based VB Turnbull went out to consultation last month with a 255-home plan, while Banks has acquired a site for 109 homes.
Taylor Wimpey’s plans can be viewed on Stockton’s planning portal, with the reference 25/1330/OUT.
