£340m industrial site expansion approved

The £340m expansion of an industrial site which could support up to 3,000 jobs has been approved, despite objections over an accompanying bypass road.

Plans for the next phase of the Integra 61 development in Bowburn, County Durham, involve creating up to three million sq ft (278,709 sq m) of new units for storage, manufacturing and distribution.

Approval of the scheme also enables the Bowburn Development Route to be built, which would provide access to the site.

But the road, due to be built just 10m (32ft) away from some people's gardens, has faced opposition over noise and disruption from lorries. Developer Citrus Durham said it understood the concerns and had worked to mitigate the impacts.

Lynne Hodgson, whose garden overlooks the proposed relief road route, said the development would have an "immediate and significant impact on our daily lives".

"The construction of the road will bring substantial noise and visual intrusion," the Bowburn resident said.

"The addition of a 4m (13ft) barrier will only intensify that impact."

Gary Hutchinson, county councillor for Bowburn and Coxhoe, said residents had continually supported the principle of a relief road, due to the disruption caused by heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) driving along the A177 through the village.

"There are homes where residents have had to reinforce their properties because of constant vibrations from passing wagons," the Independent representative said.

"But what they supported was a road that relieves the village, and not one that reallocates the problem.

"It is essential that the road properly connects to the wider network and serves both the north and south industrial estates, allowing HGVs to move from those sites without going through the village."

An ongoing proposal to reopen the Leamside Line, which the homes also overlook, has added to residents' concerns, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Councillor Alan Bell, Independent member for Lumley and West Rainton, said Integra 61 had been a "massive success" for County Durham.

Speaking after the meeting, Citrus regional director James Taylor said securing an outline planning consent was a "significant milestone" and the expansion would help create "one of the region's largest employment destinations".

The new units will be built behind the Amazon fulfilment centre at the Integra 61 site.

Costa and Greggs drive-thru units are also nearby, while construction is under way on Marton Care's new 73-bedroom care home facility alongside 260 new homes.

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