Riverside plan objectors grow

Mar 25 2008 by Neil Mckay, The Journal

OBJECTORS to a controversial new riverside development have won the support of some powerful and influential bodies.

English Heritage, Sport England and the Environment Agency have all announced they will object to the application by Banks Development Ltd to build 129 houses and apartments, almost 1,000sqm of commercial space and 151 parking spaces on the bank of the River Wear at Durham.

Part of the space is currently occupied by the city’s 80-year-old public swimming baths, which will be demolished when a new one is completed.

Locals are not against the Elvet Waterside development on the brownfield site of the old swimming baths and on the site of the Durham University car parks, but they strongly oppose any development on the previously undeveloped greenfield site, on and near the site of the former bowling green. They also raise concerns about the proposed “Racecourse Park” developments which would lie on a flood plain of the highest severity rating. The loss of greenbelt land means that rain water is less easily absorbed and if storm drains cannot cope this can cause flooding. The Environment Agency has announced it will oppose the plans because it cannot be certain that they would not increase flood risk elsewhere.

Its planning officer, Sarah Wickerson, wrote to the planning authority which will meet to discuss the application – Durham City Council – saying the agency “could not confirm whether we will find the design of the proposed flood bank acceptable”.

Sport England launched a formal objection because it fears that the development could increase the risk of flooding on Durham University’s sports pitches at Maiden Castle. David Farrington, historic buildings inspector for English Heritage, also wrote to planners urging they refuse the application, saying the development would have a “detrimental effect upon the character and appearance of the conservation area, and upon the character of views towards the Durham Castle and Cathedral World Heritage Site, and to the important listed buildings within it”.

More than 7,500 people have signed three petitions in protest and a website – www.forcitysake.org – has been set up. Due to the volume of objections, city planners are unlikely to discuss the application until June.

But John Ruddick, Elvet Waterside project manager at Banks Developments, said: “All the way through the design development process, we have been highly aware of the importance of creating a scheme which both complements and enhances the existing development, and we believe we have put forward a plan that does so. We have been careful to respect the magnificent views of Durham’s World Heritage Site from Elvet and the surrounding area.”