I was contacted recently by residents asking if there were any plans in the pipeline to build houses on land at the rear of the Esso service station just of the A1086 Coast Road in Blackhall. Apparently someone had spotted what appeared to be surveyors on the land and this piqued their interest, especially since similar concerns were raised not so long ago when rumours started to circulate that builders were on site to prepare the land for a housing development.
Background details can be found in this link: Land clearance works behind the Esso service station
I raised residents' latest concerns with the planning office and other departments at county hall to see if I could get more information about what was going on behind the service station. And the response I've received from the council confirms that there is still no planning consent in place for any kind of development, nor has a planning application been received by the planning section. I've reproduced the response below:
The Planning Team can confirm that site clearance had taken place. This included the removal of vegetation and possibly some levelling of the land. However, these activities were not classified as 'development' and no breaches of planning regulations were identified.
In relation to your query, the council can confirm that the land immediately to the rear of the Esso service station is no longer owned by Durham County Council. Furthermore, there is currently no planning application or enquiry on record for any development on this land.
Should a valid planning
application be submitted in the future, it will be published on the Council’s
website, and the usual procedures will apply, including site notices and
neighbour notification letters to affected residents. Please note that survey
works typically do not require planning consent.
I'll continue to monitor developments on this matter and I'll update when there are any significant changes or if there is any additional information from the council.
