The application site comprises approximately 11 hectares of land at Derwent View, Consett. Forming part of the former Consett Steel Works site which closed in 1980,
the application site lies to the southwest of Consett Town Centre which has been subject to extensive new development largely facilitated by Project Genesis.
This includes a new retail park off Consett Road adjacent to the site to the north, which accommodates Starbucks Coffee and a Tesco Superstore. Beyond this retail park lies the Regents Park residential development, which has been delivered by Amethyst Homes on behalf of Project Genesis.

 

The wider Project Genesis site, which encompasses the land of the former steel works, is allocated for mixed-use development under the County Durham Plan. Having regard to the application site itself, outline planning permission was previously granted by Durham County Council in February 2020 for a mixed-use scheme comprising a community hospital, residential care unit, hotel and other uses. This permission has lawfully commenced and remains extant.

 

Project Genesis remains committed to deliver the community hospital and is now seeking to proactively develop the wider site for residential-led, mixed-use development.