Church of England and Durham County Council submit plans for 1,400-home scheme

The Church Commissioners for England and Durham County Council have submitted a joint planning application to build a 1,435-home development.

The 97.1-hectare Copelaw scheme, near the town of Newton Aycliffe, will if approved deliver a series of “interlinked neighbourhoods” around a central ‘spine’ road.

A spokesperson for the Church Commissioners, the body responsible for managing the Church of England’s property assets, said the scheme would include 15% affordable housing in line with the local plan and up to 92 extra care homes.

The scheme would also include a primary school and a town centre including shops. The proposed scheme would include sustainable drainage systems and “policy-compliant levels of biodiversity net gain” with homes built to the Future Homes Standard.

The Church Commissioners for England have said the church has enough strategic land to deliver 30,000 homes. It had 9,000 homes subject to planning applications as of last year.

It has recently secured planning permission for a 1,000-home development in Bracebridge Heath, Lincolnshire and the first phase of a 650-home scheme in Northallerton, north Yorkshire.

>>See also:Church of England embarks on its affordable housing mission

>>See also: Church of England secures planning permission for 1,087-home development in Lincoln

Earlier this month the commissioners submitted a planning application for a 150-home development in Fiskerton, Lincolnshire.

“Our plans for the Newton Aycliffe scheme would provide high-quality, sustainable housing that meets the needs and aspirations of residents,” said Matt Naylor, team lead in strategic land at the Church Commissioners for England.

“Importantly, it features extensive social, environmental and transport infrastructure, including a local primary school, green open space, elderly care provision, and shops and services to create a thriving, well-connected community.”