More eco-friendly ideas for Durham Park greens

Nov 12 2008 by Neil Mckay, The Journal

REVAMPED plans for a well known golf club have received a frosty reception. Already local politicians have vowed to oppose proposals to build on Mount Oswald Golf Club, on the southern outskirts of Durham.

The Banks Developments scheme, known as Durham Park, features less commercial building than previously proposed and according to the applicant is designed to “fully integrate research, business, educational activities and eco-living into the wider surrounding communities”.

But city and county councillor Nigel Martin said: “While these proposals appear to involve considerably less development of the site than the original one that was roundly rejected by the planning committee and just about everyone who was consulted on it, there are still aspects that fall quite outside the current local planning framework.

“As the local councillors for the area, I and my colleague Coun Grenville Holland, will be very keen to know residents’ views of these new proposals as we shall want to represent local opinion as fully as possible.”

Durham MP Roberta Blackman-Woods called the previous plans to build a business park and houses at Mount Oswald entirely unsuitable.

She objected to the £150m development on the 85-acre site.

Local people will get their first chance to see the new plans at a public exhibition to be held between 3pm and 7pm next Wednesday in the Campbell Suite of the Mount Oswald Golf Course clubhouse.

Banks withdrew its original proposals earlier this year, after agreeing on an extension of time with the landowners and taking into account negative comments received.

The revised scheme would still comprise four distinct quarters – commerce, knowledge, parkland and eco-living – but would include about 200,000sq ft of commercial space, instead of the 700,000sq ft originally proposed.

The restoration and expansion of the parkland landscape would also be central to the scheme, with new public art, wetlands, habitat enhancement and creation, cycleways and footpaths all added to the design. The Grade II-listed Mount Oswald House would be restored.

Banks Developments environment and community director Mark Dowdall said: “Our Durham Park proposal reflects the latest techniques in sustainable development and design and will create a new area that both integrates into and enhances the existing city community in many ways.

“The design takes into account many of the comments made by local people and other statutory bodies during our original consultation process, and ensures that the development retains an open, parkland character that is sympathetic with its surroundings.

“We believe that Durham Park has huge potential to provide many benefits to the city and wider region and hope that people will come along to our exhibition and make their minds up based on what they see.”

The application could be determined by Durham City Council before it disappears at the end of March next year, but if not, it would be determined by the new county unitary authority.

Meanwhile officials at Mount Oswald Golf Club insist it is business as usual for golfers despite the uncertainty surrounding the club’s future.

The site includes 12 Huf Haus timber-framed houses will be built in a landscaped setting.

The developer says these properties will be designed to a high ecological specification utilising the latest in sustainable principles of development.