Plans for 475 homes approved despite traffic fears
Cecil M YuillPlans for up to 475 new homes on agricultural land have been approved, despite resident's traffic and wildlife concerns.
Hartlepool Borough Council green-lit proposals for the properties on 58 acres (23.5 hectares) of land to the north of Elwick Road and south of Worset Lane, as part of the Quarry Farm housing development.
Residents raised 26 objections around "inadequate" road infrastructure, the impact on the countryside and the lack of demand for the properties.
However, planning officers recommended its approval subject to an £8m mitigation scheme from the developer for things such as highways infrastructure and schooling.
The outline application, from Hartlepool-based Cecil M Yuill, included a local centre with retail units and areas of open space.
It stated the scheme would be the third phase of the Quarry Farm housing development, which has already seen up to 301 homes approved for other companies.
Affordable homes
The application went before the Labour-led local authority's planning committee on Wednesday, after councillors previously twice deferred making a decision.
The panel decided by majority vote to approve it, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.
It was subject to the completion of a section 106 legal agreement to mitigate the impacts of the scheme.
The agreement included more than £5m towards highway infrastructure, £1.4m for primary school provision and just under £1m for secondary education.
It would also ensure 7% of the properties provided were classed as affordable homes.
