PARISH COUNCIL FIRES WARNING SHOT OVER DURHAM GREEN BELT: “WE WILL FIGHT THIS ALL THE WAY TO THE HIGH COURT”

The City of Durham Parish Council has vowed to fiercely oppose any attempt to remove further areas of the Durham Green Belt as part of the review of the County Durham Plan, declaring it is prepared to challenge any such proposals through the planning process and, if necessary, in the High Court.

The warning comes following the publication of sites submitted during Durham County Council’s “Call for Sites” exercise, which has seen large areas of land around Durham City—including Green Belt land—put forward by landowners and developers for potential future development.

Among the locations nominated are land opposite Stonebridge, Lowes Barn Bank, Crossgate Moor, Merryoaks, north of Moorhouse Wood, as well as Green Belt land at Sidegate and towards Hopper’s Wood. Other submissions have prompted concern over land affecting Aykley Woods and the historic Neville’s Cross battlefield.

Parish Councillors say the scale of the proposed sites would place unacceptable pressure on already congested roads, particularly the A167, while raising serious concerns over infrastructure, biodiversity, heritage and the continued erosion of the Green Belt surrounding Durham City.

The Parish Council has described the latest proposals as a line that should not be crossed.

Following its Full Council meeting in June, Councillors resolved that they would oppose any attempt to remove additional Green Belt land from Durham City through the new Local Plan. Members pointed to previous Green Belt releases at Sniperley, which paved the way for thousands of new homes, arguing that Durham has already contributed significantly to meeting the county’s housing requirements.

The Parish Council has now made clear that if Durham County Council seeks to delete further sections of the Green Belt through the emerging Local Plan, it intends to fight those proposals throughout the Examination in Public before the independent Planning Inspector and will consider taking legal action in the High Court if necessary.

Local Ward Member for Neville’s Cross, Councillor Elizabeth Scott (pictured) said: “This Government may want to see a brick on every blade of grass left in Durham, and Durham County Council seems all too willing to embark on a bargain-basement sell-off of our Green Belt at any price. That is not a future we are prepared to accept.

The Green Belt is not spare land waiting to be built on. It protects the unique setting not just of our historic city but also neighbouring towns and villages, it prevents urban sprawl and preserves the countryside that generations have fought to safeguard. Once it is gone, it is gone forever.

The City of Durham Parish Council is sending a clear message today. We will defend every blade of Green Belt grass. We will challenge these proposals throughout the Examination in Public, and if necessary, take our fight all the way to the High Court.

“Residents have already seen thousands of homes approved following previous Green Belt releases. Durham has done its bit. Instead of sacrificing more countryside, we should be regenerating brownfield sites and ensuring infrastructure keeps pace with development. We will not stand by while more of Durham’s precious Green Belt is put at risk.”

The publication of the Call for Sites does not mean the nominated land will be allocated for development. The exercise is the first stage of preparing a new County Durham Local Plan, with every submitted site now subject to detailed assessment before any decisions are made on which locations should proceed to the next stage.

Nevertheless, parish councillors say the volume and location of the submissions demonstrate the scale of development pressure facing Durham City and are urging residents to engage with the Local Plan consultation as it progresses.

Any resident wishing to give their views at this stage of the consultation can do so via the link: https://letstalkcountydurham.co.uk/en-GB/folders/help-shape-a-new-county-durham-plan

The Parish Council has pledged to scrutinise every proposal affecting Durham City and to ensure the voices of local communities are heard during the forthcoming Examination in Public, where the soundness of the Local Plan will ultimately be tested by an independent Planning Inspector.