Further concerns over transport plans for the proposed Skerningham housing development will be discussed next week. Councillors will urge developers behind the Skerningham Garden Village to rethink specific details around connectivity, transport and the road network at a special scrutiny meeting on Thursday, January 9.
The joint request by Conservatives and Greens means members will review a traffic modelling process conducted as part of the Masterplan.
Concerns have also been raised about the speed of development including the building of the local ‘distributor road’ after residents said it should be completed earlier to relieve traffic congestion. Work on the road is outlined to be complete by phase four of the scheme, between 2036 and 2041.
A map of the proposed development (Image: Skerningham Estates Ltd)
The Economy and Resources Scrutiny Committee’s call-in request of the Masterplan reads: “Scrutiny would like to review recent traffic modelling in respect of additional car journeys and the road capacity to ensure the infrastructure phasing is acceptable. In reviewing the traffic modelling information in relation to the Springfield Park Link Road which is very old, it’s useful from the point that it has traffic modelling in relation to Skerningham Garden Village Local Plan.
“Without the local distributor road in place and assuming 600 houses have been built at the top of Barmpton Lane, it quotes a 47.6 per cent increase in traffic down Whinbush Way.”
An updated version of the Skerningham Garden Village ‘comprehensive masterplan’ was released by the developers, Banks Property and Skerningham Estates Ltd, in November and includes an infrastructure phasing plan outlining details of the development and a community consultation process.
The garden village is due to cover 487 hectares to the north of Darlington. It will adjoin the existing communities at Beaumont Hill, Whinfield and Great Burdon. Barmpton Village and the East Coast Mainline are also located near the site.
Yet the group of councillors fear the initial transport modelling carried out could now be inaccurate and have requested reviewing recent traffic data, which assesses the peak time traffic near schools and other popular routes.
The joint letter, signed by councillors Roz Henderson, Alan Marshall, Scott Durham and Heather Scott, reads: “[We] believe that this modelling, now five years out of date, assuming infrastructure in place five years early, is now of very limited value. There’s no clarity on whether this traffic modelling was based on the assumption that Skerningham Garden Village would be a 20-minute neighbourhood and whether they had factored in school trips. The local distributor road is not scheduled to be completed until 2036 by which time there will be 1,450 houses built with no additional schools.
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“We feel that this is evidence that the decision was not taken with the principle of due consultation.”
The new distributor road serving the huge housing development is also due to be built through a Skerningham Woodland despite a local campaign to save it. However, the councillors have also questioned why that decision and have asked to review alternative routes.
Banks and Skerningham Estates Ltd said there will be further opportunities to comment on the proposed development at the application stage(s) of the development. A statement added: “The developers remain committed to working with the local community and council throughout the planning and construction process.”