Developer appeals against 600 homes refusal

A developer has appealed against the refusal of its plans to build up to 600 homes and called for a public inquiry.

Stockton Council's planning committee reject Taylor Wimpey's £133m proposal for land east of Holdenfields Farm on Green Lane, Yarm, in March.

The plans attracted about 600 objections and a petition opposing the development gained more than 3,200 signatures.

A spokesperson for the developer said: "We will continue to work closely with Stockton Council and local stakeholders as part of the planning appeal process."

Residents had raised issues about the development, saying the "infrastructure cannot support this capacity" and claiming it would cause "chaos".

Their concerns centred on congestion, including on Yarm High Street, heritage and the impact on schools and medical practices.

But Taylor Wimpey said the scheme would bring "substantial and material benefits", including £85m into the economy and more than 200 jobs.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, planning officers had recommended approving the plan, saying the weight of public objection was irrelevant and traffic impacts were not considered severe.

But councillors said they could not support the plan because of "horrific" traffic problems, lack of capacity and electricity supply and the effects on wildlife, woodland and the countryside.

Taylor Wimpey said it would like the appeal to be heard through a public inquiry to test evidence and cross-examine the council's witnesses.

It stated its evidence would "demonstrate that the appeal site was a deliverable proposition" and argued that the council's Local Plan was out of date so the delivery of homes, in an area facing an affordable homes crisis, "should be given substantial weight".

The company said its plans would bring benefits including green areas, bus services and cycle connections.

Yarm town councillor Yvonne Wallace, who started the petition and spoke against the plans at the original committee meeting, said: "I'm disappointed but not surprised.

"We'll be having some meetings. I want to be there at the appeal hearing, definitely, I think a lot of people will want to be there."

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