Yarm housing refused by council
Despite being recommended for approval, Taylor Wimpey’s plans for 600 homes in the Stockton-on-Tees town have been roundly rejected, with a vote of 13-1.
The hotly contested £133m scheme for land near Green Lane received more than 600 objections from locals, who mainly criticised the lack of supporting infrastructure and the amount of traffic that would be added to the market town.
Stockton’s lack of a five-year housing supply led to the recommendation to approve the scheme, however councillors at the meeting sided with local concerns.
Taylor Wimpey was planning to make one fifth of the estate affordable housing, equating to around 120 homes.
Cllr Sylvia Walmsley said: “It’s absolutely ridiculous to say 600 houses will not have an effect on traffic. There’s no capacity, there’s no electricity supply there. It’s in totally the wrong place.”
Cllr Tony Riordan said: “We’ve got capacity issues, infrastructure issues, highways issues, electricity supply issues. The whole application and presentation to committee has been rushed. It’s a complete and utter mess.
“It’s not going to get off the ground because the Crathorne interchange hasn’t been upgraded and opened to the public. There’s no infrastructure here, it’s gone, it’s on its knees.”
Deputy council leader cllr Paul Rowling said: “There has to be a time where we actually say no.”
