No inquiry over housing plans for Byland Lodge

12:52pm Friday 27th June 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

A GOVERNMENT office has declined to probe a controversial housing development.

The Government Office for the North-East decided not to subject plans for 28 houses and flats at Byland Lodge, the 19th century villa in Hawthorn Terrace, Durham, that has been home to the city council, to a public inquiry.

Durham City's Labour MP Roberta Blackman-Woods had asked GONE to call in the application, saying it breached planning policy as it had no affordable housing.

Earlier this month, the council's development control committee was prevented from approving the plans, from the council part-owned Durham Villages Regeneration Company, until GONE had reached a decision. The committee voted 14-1 it was minded to approve the scheme.

Durham City Council leader Fraser Reynolds said: "It was an absolute nonsense for the local MP to work in this way - the whole ethos of our work with the Durham Villages Regeneration Company is about creating balanced communities and this area of the city is dominated by student accommodation. It needs this prestigious scheme to offer more choice. Local people were happy with the scheme and there were only two other objections."

Dr Blackman-Woods said: "Although asking the Government Office to turn this application down was a long shot, I think their decision is atrocious and goes against everything I believe the Government is trying to do.

Apparently, the city council and GONE are happy to see areas of Durham transformed into low-income ghettos while the city centre becomes the preserve of the wealthy."