Latest News - Stop Press – UPDATE
February 2010
The developers BANKS have withdrawn their plans for Elvet Waterside. We are now campaigning to ensure that there will be a new Development Brief excluding the green spaces east of the old swimming baths wall, which reflects the existing tree-line, is the natural urban edge of the City and marks the line of the historic City racecourse.
February 2010
We understand that in light of the continued objection from statutory consultee English Heritage the Local authority planners have advised the developers to withdraw their plans and re-submit them, but to date this has not been done.
July 2009
Severe flooding in Durham City and at the Elvet Waterside site, and erosion of the riverbanks caused us to write to the Environment Agency expressing our deep concern that they had lifted their objection to the development in 2008 (see Flooding).
June 2009
We met with officers of the new unitary authority Durham County Council to request that they maintain the bowling green. On-going maintenance of the area is now a regular occurrence.
2009
Due possibly to the economic climate and the inability to reach a compromise between English Heritage and the developers Banks there has been little activity concerning the Elvet Waterside development this year.September 2008
There is no date yet for when the new plans for Elvet Waterside Development will be consulted on, but it is understood that the developers would like the plans to go before the City Council’s planning committee before it becomes a Unitary Authority on April 1st 2009. (See Northern Echo article - 18th September 2008)
The Environment Agency put Old Elvet and Elvet Waterside on their highest-level flood alert during recent torrential rainfall. The river flooded parts of the proposed Elvet Waterside development site, with water lapping at the top of the vennel leading from the riverside to behind the Bowling Green. There was substantial surface water flooding on Old Elvet too where the drains were unable to cope with the volume of water – see photos
Since our last update the story of the Elvet Waterside Development has taken a number of twists and turns, see the summary below. Please follow the links to the press releases, which will give you more information.
July 2008
Elvet resident’s association in conjunction with Crossgate community partnership and Claypath and district resident’s association were one of the regional winners of the Nationwide Community and Heritage Awards. This award was given in recognition of their voluntary community work and their efforts to preserve and enhance the heritage of Durham City.
It is understood that the City Council planners have asked legal advice from a planning barrister about the Greenfield/brown field status of the bowling green. We understand that he barrister consulted has confirmed that the bowling green IS A GREENFIELD site (which is what the For City Sake campaign has always stated) and as such, if the City Council planning committee passes the plans for development, they have to be referred to the Government Office of the North East (GONE).
Banks, the developers, met with Durham City Planners and English Heritage to discuss the design, scale and massing of the Elvet Waterside scheme in order to alleviate English Heritage’s objections to the plans and to enable them to lift their objection, which still stands. It is understood that the developers have recently submitted revised drawings to English Heritage, which include the lowering of the height of the triangular commercial block on the riverbank from 3 storeys to 2 storeys. If English Heritage approves these plans, the planners will then re-consult with all those who made representations in regard to the original submitted scheme.
The Archaeology Consultation Response for Elvet Waterside recommends, ”No ground works shall take place in the areas noted…until an archaeological mitigation strategy has been submitted to…the local planning authority“. Read the report in full
June 2008
In June the City Council allowed the sponsor of the Durham Regatta, Bradley Hall, to use the old bowling green to erect their marquee for corporate entertaining. The bowling green was tidied up and was well used by hundreds of visitors, including many children, on one of the rare sunny weekends of the summer. (see photos)
May 2008
The Environment Agency (EA), Sport England and Natural England withdraw their objections to the development. This is not surprising as the EA objections were based on engineering calculations and we understand that the developers made many re-submissions to the EA until the calculations eventually satisfied the criteria. However, in their letter to the planners the EA state that their decision is based on the ” Accuracy and completeness of the Flood Risk Assessment…, and can take no responsibility for incorrect data or interpretation made by the authors“. Thus exonerating them selves from any future liability. They also state that the Elvet Waterside site: ”Would flood with an annual probability of 1 in 20 (5%) or greater in any year“ which means that in their view the site will flood at least once every 20 years. The full letter can be viewed by following the link on the home page to the planning application on the council website, and looking at ‘Associated Documents’. Also see press release
In their election leaflet, put through Elvet resident’s doors on the morning of the local council elections, the Liberal Democrat councillors included an ‘Elvet Waterside News Flash!’ Which states that the;
‘Lib Dem run council has told Banks the developer to withdraw their unpopular and controversial proposal for Elvet Waterside….“ This was a misleading statement, as it was the chief planning officer David Thornborrow who advised Banks to consider withdrawing the planning application, and he did so purely on planning policy grounds – see press article. However the information may have helped the Lib Dem candidates’ campaign as both were voted in for Elvet Ward, one candidate by a narrow margin.
April 2008
David Thornborrow, head of the city council planning department, in light of objections to the plans by statutory consultees and the volume of objections from the public, wrote to Banks to urge them to withdraw their plans for the EWD. Banks refuses. The Durham Times’ comment in the paper the same day, refers to the development, calling for a revised scheme – see press release
March 2008
Banks send a brochure to the residents of Durham entitled the Elvet Waterside Redevelopment Proposals – view here -(please link to their website www.banksdevelopments.com - which has the brochure on it). The brochure includes a number of inaccuracies including stating that the swimming baths are already closed, and that the PlayHut playgroup which is on the EW site will benefit from ”improved new facilities“ Banks, and the University (who own the site) now say that they cannot re-house the playgroup and it will be closed later this summer -see home page for more information
Banks the developers of the proposed Elvet Waterside site conclude a deal with the University to buy 4 of their properties on Old Elvet, currently used as offices, which border the site of the Elvet Waterside Development (EWD). The deal will only be completed if Banks receive planning permission for the EWD. – see press release
It is reported that statutory consultees the Environment Agency, Sport England, Natural England, English Heritage and Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) have objected to the plans for the development. The letters can be viewed in full on the city council’s website, under Associated Documents – follow link from home page – also see press release
Stop Press February 2008
Children from the Elvet area feel so strongly about the proposed development at Elvet Waterside that they have met together and compiled a report expressing their feelings about the loss of the greenfield part of the site to housing.
Supported by independent youth workers they met on Saturday 9th February to talk about their experiences of using the area and have put forward excellent suggestions about how they would like to see the area improved. Rosie Lindsay age 11 from Church Street, Durham City, said ” I walk my dogs by the river and use the area most days. I love the riverbanks. I think the council should make the old bowling green into a park with somewhere to sit, and a shelter so you can meet your friends even if it’s raining“ The children also expressed disappointment that the City Council and the developers Banks, who have been involved in consultation with the community before the planning process, have not invited any young people to be part of their consultation process. As Frank Hawes, 12, of Claypath, Durham City said; ” I often walk along the riverbank past the swimming baths to school with my friends and I meet friends there after school. I think it is wrong of the Council and the developers not to ask young people what they think about their plans as children and young people use the area a lot “ As the plans have now been submitted for planning consent, the young people are sending their report to the planners as their objection to the development on the greenfield site. They are also sending the report to the developers and to the City Council and are confident that through their report their voices will now be heard. Click here to read the report in full
Stop Press January 2008
Elvet Waterside plans submitted JAN 2008 – The plans submitted include building on the greenfield site that we are campaigning to save.
The plans are for 129 residential dwellings made up of 103 apartments and 26 town houses. 14 of the residential units will be affordable. There will be 998 square metres of commercial space in 3 buildings.
We will shortly be adding the visual plans to this site, please keep checking back. Follow this link for details of the plans and how to object.
Stop Press July 2007
Petition presented to MP Roberta Blackman-Woods to the accompaniment of an Opera singer!
Bethany Halliday, who sings with the English National Opera, performed the Racecourse Rag, (which was composed by Elvet residents association chairman Jonathan Lovell) next to Racecourse Park, Elvet Waterside on Friday 20th July, to mark the presentation of a 3,400+ signature petition to Durham City MP Roberta Blackman-Woods, calling for the green space to be saved.
Dr Blackman-Woods, who will take the petition to Parliament before the summer recess, said: "I am concerned at the loss of this green space. Instead, what the city should be developing is proper recreational space facilities." Northern Echo - Monday 23rd July 2007
Update..................
MP Roberta Blackman-Woods presented the petition from Elvet residents to Parliament.
The petition is against the proposals to build on the former bowling green on Elvet Waterside and any of the green space east of the walls of the swimming baths, and includes signatures from local schools as well as residents. Please follow this link to see the report in Hansard
Stop Press June 2007
The developers Banks are holding an exhibition of their latest plans At the GALA THEATRE - in the STUDIO on the 3rd FLOOR On TUESDAY 5th JUNE 2007 Between 3pm - 7pm
PLEASE go along to view the plans and let them know that you are against the development of the green area (which includes the former bowling green- Racecourse Park) next to the riverbank. In recent consultation meetings BANKS representatives have been telling us that most people are happy with the development on the green space. If you agree with us,
PLEASE GO AND TELL THEM THAT YOU ARE AGAINST THE DEVELOPMENT ON THE GREEN
SPACE, so that they get the message!
Stop Press April 2007
Kepier Court
Objectors to the proposed development of 43 flats and houses at Kepier Court, Gilesgate, Durham were pleased to have the support of an Independent Planning Inspector who ruled against the development on the grounds that it did not contain proposals for affordable housing.
Durham M.P. Roberta Blackman-Woods, along with many residents, has lamented the lack of affordable housing in proposed new developments in the city. Dr Blackman-Woods said: 'The planning inspector has once more pointed out the lack of affordable housing provision in the city of Durham and has cited this as the main reason for rejecting the proposal'
Small local traders increasingly experience an environment where commuters use Durham as a base and shop elsewhere and the dearth of families with children who can afford to live in the city affects the quality of life now and is likely to have even more impact -unless the city's planning policies can be robustly improved. Banks' development proposals for Elvet Waterside (to date) contain no proposals for affordable housing.
The planning inspector did not agree with Gilesgate residents that the development was out of keeping with the area or that it would cause traffic congestion. Residents' spokesman, Bill Williamson was quoted in the Northern Echo as saying it rendered worthless planning policies designed to protect the conservation area and build sustainable mixed communities and added that he and his neighbours would fight any similar plans for the area. He said ' If the logic behind this decision was to govern developments elsewhere in the city, then local plans and local democracy will mean nothing. We cannot let that happen.'
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