HAMSTERLEY FOREST ACTION GROUP
WE would like to document our concern re the following planning application:
DM/24/02979/FPA|Proposed Masterplan for Hamsterley Forest comprising a replacement
Forestry England Visitor Centre with offices, cafe, classroom, and WCs with additional rationalised
car parking; 70no. Forest Holidays cabins with associated infrastructure; a Go Ape high ropes course;
and a change of use of the Nest buildings and land to provide a Forestry England Camping area
(Additional Info received 19.11.24) This was received 31st October 2024 and verified 12th November
2024 and a determination date, still published on the planning portal 11th February 2025.
The applicants have now been given two 3 -month extensions to allow them time to submit
further documentation. Both deadlines have passed with no documents having been submitted,
which raises the question why did the applicant propose these timeframes if they obviously knew
they were not viable?
It is easy to see that some of the required environmental surveys have to be undertaken at a
predetermined time of the year and over a protracted period of time. They cannot be completed on
a whim. Whereas we understand that it is the Council’s right to allow extensions, we as the
committee and many of the 1300 members of the Hamsterley Forest Action Group have the
following concerns:
- This is a FPA and yet numerous significant documents are missing. Surely as a FPA they should
have been included when the application was submitted? It would appear to the general public that
this application is being dealt with although it was an outline planning application. Is there a two-
tier planning application process? Would this leeway be given to any County Durham resident who
has submitted an application or do commercial enterprises receive preferential treatment? - The applicant will claim that some of the documents they need to submit are as a response to
objections. The lack of correctly completed ecological and habitat surveys is basic professional
incompetence. Forestry England’s remit is to manage the nation’s forests including for the benefit of
nature – they employ and routinely work with external ecologists. They know exactly what should be
included in a survey so that it meets the industry guidelines. In addition, Forest Holidays have been
through the planning application process numerous times, so again they are fully aware of exactly
what is required. - The continued extensions are also allowing the applicant to study the 350 + objections that
people have spent a lot time researching and writing. Again, this is another example of the applicant
attempting to cut corners and not do their own research as we have highlighted numerous mistakes
in their data and application. Basically, they now have the opportunity to use our efforts and
finances (we have funded experts to provide reports) to improve and strengthen their application. - If a further extension is granted and based on the previous extensions is a further 3 months
that would take it to 31st October 2025 – 12 months since the application was received. It would
appear that the applicant is blatantly abusing the democratic process and we ask that Durham
Council stop this misuse of power by Forestry England and Forest Holidays. No one forced them to
submit a FPA they could have submitted Outline planning, yet it would appear that they have
decided to “play the system.”
Hamsterley Forest Action Group
