Council's rejection of 114 new homes overturned

A controversial housing development will go ahead after a developer successfully appealed a council's decision to reject the plans.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council had rejected Taylor Wimpey's plans to build 114 homes at Catt Flatt Lane, near Redcar, over concerns about a proposed access road.

Planning inspector Chris Baxter overturned the council's decision because he said there was insufficient evidence the road would impact highway safety.

The Silverdale Residents Association, which opposed the scheme, said it was "deeply disappointed" by the outcome and was considering legal options.

In overturning the decision, Mr Baxter said he was "satisfied vehicles would be able to travel and manoeuvre within the proposed development" without compromising safety.

He also rejected the claim that the development was not needed, as the site had already been included in the council's Local Plan, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

"This decision feels like a significant setback for our residents, who have worked tirelessly to preserve the integrity, safety and character of our area," the Silverdale Residents Association said.

The organisation had suggested safer access to the estate could be provided from the nearby A174 but it said the idea was never consulted on.

Instead Taylor Wimpey moved to buy an existing property on Silverdale Gardens, which it plans to demolish along with an adjacent wooded area to create the access road.

The association said residents had "serious concerns about the impact of this plan, particularly as it would force traffic through an already established residential area".

The group has suggested it could pursue legal action against the housebuilder over covenants in place designed to protect the area's green spaces and woodland.

Taylor Wimpey said it could not comment directly on the residents' claims because it was "a legal case".

Work on the development is set to begin in the second quarter of 2025, a spokeswoman for the firm said.

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