Leader
| NORTH YORKSHIRE |  | | | CLEVELAND | | | | COUNTY DURHAM | | |
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Back, brown, green
WHAT'S in a name? Is
back-land always
brownfield? Of
course not. Backland
Developments, however, a
firm whose speciality is to build
homes on large gardens previously
inaccessible behind
splendid Victorian or Edwardian
houses, would probably
like the two terms to be invariably
regarded as synonymous.
Certainly, in its choice of
name, the company is being upfront
about its intentions. But its
activities, and those of other developers
in Durham, North
Yorkshire and, especially, the
greener Teesside suburbs, are
raising hackles among people
concerned about our built environment.
As always, there is the
task of distinguishing objective
criticism from nimbyism.
One of the Government's
most sensible policies is that a
high proportion of new building
should be on brownfield sites,
largely land vacated by industry
or commerce. Local authorities
should be pre-disposed to
refuse permission for virgin
sites. That is a policy muddied
by the proposal to plant ten ecotowns
in open countryside, although
that is a controversy that
for the moment does not affect
the North-East directly.
A difficulty with brownfields is
that many are in rundown areas
where people would prefer not
to live and where developers do
not build the upmarket homes
that fetch high prices. The back
and front land to big old houses
in nice areas, such as those lining
the busy Stockton-Yarm
road - whose fate is exercising
the Tory candidate for Stockton
South, James Wharton - is
therefore seen as the more profitable
alternative.
Ideal brownfield sites do exist.
It is good news that the abandoned
former borstal that for
years has defaced the approach
to Gainford, in County Durham,
now seems set for de luxe conversion
and new build. In Darlington,
in the desirable West
End, pleasing looks, high-tree
screening and one-way access
have made the bitterly opposed
Greystones development an example
of back-land vindication.
The latter seems to be way
ahead: each case to be judged
by the planning committee
strictly on merit, with modest
height, low density, superior design
and enlightened traffic-engineering
the key criteria. We
need many more homes. But
not at any price.
12:00pm Friday 18th April 2008
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