MP adds voice to over 650 objections to ‘vague and disjointed’ plan for 700 new homes

An MP has added his voice to more than 650 objections to a plan to build up to 700 homes in Wynyard.

Alex Cunningham said the proposals by Cameron Hall Developments and Jomast Developments were unsuitable over-development and should not be approved. The Stockton North Labour MP put an objection in to Stockton Council after hundreds of residents voiced their objections to the outline proposals for up to 700 homes with a “community centre, care and medical facilities, open space, golf course improvements and associated works”.

He said: “Never before have I had so many contacts from local residents sharing their concerns about a development… I well understand many of the concerns expressed.”

READ MORE: 600 objections to ‘ridiculous’ and ‘poor’ Wynyard housing plan as Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen steps in

He wrote in his objection: “The decision to lump all manner of things into one application… does the applicant no favours as it appears an attempt to win approval for a huge housing development on the back of some important elements which are I suspect needed within the community.

“First and foremost, I believe that any development outside the areas currently designated is both undesirable and unnecessary. The current Local Plan is clear on where development should take place and I’d appeal to the planning committee to reject any such development and encourage developers to submit plans entirely within the Local Plan.

“To do otherwise can only lead to over-development and an increased strain on local services. The lack of detail on everything from impact assessments to the loss of amenity space I also believe are grounds alone for the application to be set aside.

“I am also well aware that the area, despite campaigning by myself and local people, still has no secondary school – and none seems likely in the coming years meaning even more children being transported to school elsewhere adding to the stresses on the road systems which are already considerable.

“I am surprised that there has been no comprehensive public consultation exercise by the developers – good grounds for the planning committee to reject the application and instruct the applicant to outline their plans in detail to local people.”

Parish councils for Wynyard said the plans were flawed and flimsy, “vague and disjointed”, had minimal detail, went against the Local Plan and would remove natural habitats and decimate woodland. They urged Stockton Council to halt the plans to tackle the issues and consult with residents.

Hartlepool Council has said it had no objections but some concerns, saying the large-scale development “has not been planned for and is contrary to the Stockton Local Plan 2019 and Wynyard Masterplan 2019”, though the masterplan was not to be seen as a rigid blueprint. It also says: “The absence of any supporting technical information is furthermore of significant concern.”

Other agencies called for more information. Historic England said it had heritage concerns and recommended taking the golf course extension out of the application. The Woodland Trust lodged a “holding objection”, saying: “This application should be deferred until the ancient woodland status of these woods has been determined.”

A spokesman for Cameron Hall Developments and Jomast Developments said: “Wynyard is a location that is identified for growth in the current Stockton-on-Tees Local Plan and is therefore acknowledged as a location where future development will take place. We want to give reassurance that developing Wynyard Estate in a considerate and measured way is our absolute priority.

“Our proposal is currently in outline form and more detailed plans will be formulated through the planning process. Further technical work is currently being undertaken to support the planning application and as the plans evolve, we will be in a position to conduct a full stakeholder consultation process.

“We are committed to giving all interested parties an opportunity to share their views at a series of focus groups as their opinion really matters to us, which we will take on board as the scheme progresses. It is our goal that our aspirations for new amenities for the village align with those of current residents.

“We are aiming to provide more high-quality facilities including a village hall, as well as create new outdoor play spaces, walkways and cycleways, to improve on the current areas which have limited or no public access. The volume of new homes proposed has been carefully calculated based on the existing density of the estate, focusing on a low-density approach with beautiful landscaping and greenspace in keeping with the rest of the estate.”

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