Common land application CL29 - proposed deregistration of common land at The Sands Common, Durham City
Information about the request to deregister The Sands Common.
What have we done
We have applied, as owner, to the Secretary of State under section 16(1) of the Commons Act 2006 for "the Release Land" (land presently registered as common land) to be deregistered. We are offering an alternative area of land ("the Replacement Land") be registered as common land in place of the Release Land.
This Release Land is shown edged and striped red on the plan. The Replacement Land is to the east of the Rivergreen Centre, Aykley Heads and is shown edged and striped light green on the Plan. Both the Release Land and the Replacement Land are owned by us.
The Sands - map of sites (PDF) [1MB]
The application
We are legally required to make these documents available for inspection, but as some of them are supplied by the public, they may not be accessible. If, for any reason, you cannot access the documents and need an alternative format, or want to request any documents referred to in the Index, please email commonland@durham.gov.uk.
The purpose of this application is to free up the Release Land for redevelopment in connection with our new headquarters (HQ). It is anticipated that the Release Land will be used as a car park for the new HQ building and will also house a water storage tank for the building's sprinkler system. It is also of note that this application would regularise the use to which the Release Land has been put over many years which is unauthorised in common land terms.
The inquiry
The Secretary of State appointed a planning inspector to hold a public inquiry. This took place on various dates between 27 April 2021 and 7 July 2021.
The Applicant's bundle
- Applicant's bundle (PDF, 147 mb)
- Index of Documents (PDF) [132KB]
- Applicant's Statement of Case and Summary (PDF) [146KB]
- 1 Proof of Henry Jones (PDF) [223KB] (planning)
- 1a Summary Proof of Henry Jones (PDF) [159KB] (planning)
- 2 Proof of Gerard Lawson (PDF) [227KB] (landscape and visual)
- 2a Summary Proof of Gerard Lawson (PDF) [217KB] (landscape and visual)
- 3 Proof of David Mason (PDF) [164KB] (archaeology)
- 4 Proof of Mike Ogden (PDF) [174KB] (rights of way)
- 5 Proof of Stuart Priestley (PDF) [163KB] (ecology)
- 6 Proof of Susan Robinson (PDF) [236KB] (ownership and history)
- 6a Summary Proof of Susan Robinson (PDF) [213KB] (ownership and history)
- 7 Proof of David Sparkes (PDF) [236KB] (heritage)
- 8 Proof of Stuart Timmiss (PDF) [200KB] (economics)
- 9 Proof of Mike Allum (PDF) [140KB] (economics)
The Applicant's rebuttal proofs
- Rebuttal proof of Henry Jones (PDF) [2MB]
- Rebuttal proof of Mike Ogden (PDF) [204KB]
- Rebuttal proof of Stuart Priestley (PDF) [163KB]
- Rebuttal proof of Susan Robinson (PDF) [206KB]
- Rebuttal proof of Mike Allum (PDF) [140KB]
The Objectors' Statement of Case, bundle and proofs
Objectors' Statement of Case and document bundle (PDF) [23MB] includes evidence from:
- The Durham City Freemen
- The City of Durham Parish Council
- The City of Durham Trust
- Durham Markets Company
- St Nicholas Community Forum
Open Spaces Society submission:
- Open Spaces Society - Statement of Case (PDF) [84KB]
- Open Spaces Society - Summary Statement of Case (PDF) [52KB]
- Open Spaces Society - Summary Proof of Evidence (PDF) [45KB]
- Open Spaces Society - appendices (PDF) [7MB]
- Open Spaces Society - cases (PDF) [946KB]
Other objector submissions:
- objection by James Cowan (PDF) [2MB]
- objection by Jean Crowden (PDF) [100KB]
- objection by Miriam Johansen (PDF) [134KB]
Adjournment Application
- The Objector's Adjournment Application (PDF) [230KB]
- The Applicant's Response to Adjournment Application (PDF) [321KB]
- Inspector's Decision on Adjournment Application (PDF) [199KB]
Closing Submissions
- The Objector's Closing Submissions (PDF) [244KB]
- The Open Spaces Society Closing Submissions (PDF) [228KB]
- The Applicant's Closing Submissions (PDF) [396KB]
This submission refers to a separate application decision, which can be viewed at the link below.
Decision