Council accused of 'bypassing democracy' in homes row

Council chiefs have been accused of "bypassing democracy" in a row over plans for more than a hundred new homes.

Building firm Taylor Wimpey has brought an appeal after it was denied planning permission last December for 114 new properties off Cat Flatt Lane, between Redcar and Marske.

But the minority Labour-led Redcar and Cleveland Council said it would not defend the appeal as there was "no prospect of success" and could incur "significant costs".

A councillor said it was a "shame" unelected officers had been allowed to "bypass democracy".

Despite the plans initially being denied by the council, the local authority's chief legal officer sent a letter to the government’s Planning Inspectorate, confirming it was withdrawing its reasons for the refusal of planning permission.

This was after "careful consideration" of the grounds of an appeal put forward by the appellant Taylor Wimpey and landowner the Earl of Ronaldshay.

The appeal hearing is still due to go ahead later this year, albeit without the involvement of the council.

People living in Silverdale Gardens, which sits directly to the north west of the planned development, have opposed the scheme and the potential building of a new access road which would see woodland and some existing properties removed to make way for it.

Councillor Jack Symon, who represents Wheatlands ward for the Conservatives, said it was a "shame" unelected officers had been allowed to "bypass democracy".

He said: "What is the point of a planning committee if we don’t respect their decisions?"

An online fundraiser has been set up by the Silverdale Residents Association to try and raise cash for legal assistance and a protest petition has been launched, which has almost 200 signatures.

A spokeswoman for the council said defending against the appeal would incur "significant costs promoting a case where there is no prospect of success".

"The developer has exercised its legal right to lodge an appeal and, as a result, a planning inquiry is due to take place over a period of four days in October this year," she added.

"Our external legal advice indicates that the council has no prospect of successfully defending the reasons given for refusal."

The Local Democracy Reporting Service also approached a representative of Taylor Wimpey, but was told the firm was not in a position to comment because of the ongoing appeal.

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