frontpage

Consultation Launched Over Plans For New North East Garden Village

CGI image of Skerningham Garden Village residential development, which is being considered in a public consultation. Credit Lichfields

The latest plans for a new garden village in the North East of England will be revealed at a public consultation, launched regional planning and development consultancy Lichfields.

The proposed multi-million-pound development by property developers Banks Property and Skerningham Estates Ltd could see up to 3,700 new houses including hundreds of affordable living properties, built at the 487-hectare Skerningham Garden Village site to the north of Darlington.

New schools, healthcare facilities, shops, pubs, cafés, businesses, leisure services and amenities, landscaping and community spaces, together with an improved road system, are also on the cards as part of ambitious plans by the government, which is looking to create new garden villages across England.

The public consultation, which goes live online today (30th October) at https://www.skerningham.co.uk and runs until Sunday 19th November, will consider the views of hundreds of local residents, stakeholders and the planning authority on the Draft Masterplan for Skerningham.

It also outlines the ambitions for a development concept that will create a liveable and sustainable community, designed around prioritising residents’ health, well-being and overall quality of life.

A series of local drop in sessions at the Dolphin Centre, Horse Market, Darlington on 1st November 2023 (9am until 1pm), 2nd November (12pm until 4pm) and ASDA, Whinbush Way, Darlington on 6th November 2023 (1pm until 5pm), 7th November (9am until 1pm) are also planned.

Neil Westwick, senior director at Lichfields’ Newcastle office, said people are encouraged to take the opportunity to become involved through consultation and share their views on the scheme with feedback to help inform the scope of the final planning submission.

He said: “We are pleased to share the Comprehensive Masterplan with the local community and we look forward to receiving feedback. Skerningham is already well-known to local residents, who have been asking for more details about what the development will include.

“The Masterplan provides further detail on what is proposed at the site, the infrastructure that will be provided and the phasing of the development.”