Taylor Wimpey set for Yarm approval 

The housebuilder’s hotly contested plans for 600 homes is recommended for approval at Stockton-on-Tees’ meeting this week.

ELG Planning, TPM Landscape and P+HS Architects are key advisors on the proposals for 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.

Since plans were lodged, more than 400 objections have been submitted to the council. However, Stockton is unable to prove a five-year housing supply and so has recommended a green light for the scheme.

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Planning records show that a previous application for 200 homes was withdrawn in 2019, prior to which consent for a full 18-hole golf course and facilities had twice been granted.

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.