Highfield House on Parliament Street in Consett town centre is a beautiful stone built, listed property situated in a highly populated residential area. One of two identical houses on the same street originally built by Corus. Used over the years as a Probation Centre and for offices. 

Within the immediate area is a School, an Elderly assisted living unit, The Cadets, The Scout Hut, a Dance School, a local Allotment site and a high number of vulnerable elderly people within the community in bungalows on the same street. Less than 800 meters away is Consett Park/Playground.

A new development has now been proposed for the building, this time, after extensive building works it is to become a 16 Bedroom dwelling in which to house HIGH RISK OFFENDERS. (Please see links for more info)

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/20093928.anger-plans-house-criminals-metres-school-scout-hut-consett/?fbclid=IwAR0iGixj-_lpPpzEz0bFAAemuDjKldPF6WHoGkaYySajwU0H9oXBQThX-M4

https://www.richardholden.org.uk/news/richard-challenges-plans-consetts-highfield-house-be-used-house-high-risk-offenders

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/20081834.mp-plans-prisoner-reform-centre-consett/

Please follow this link to the Planning Application - 

https://publicaccess.durham.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=R94Y7PGDLBY00&fbclid=IwAR3yD2C28g_KE1exUC2u24L8D1A1MTHiTUo8XBMmInSwWc4SG7esr_szxh4

These are our main objections (not limited to)

1) The proposed extension to the original building (Highfield House) is not in keeping with the architectural design of the buildings on Parliament Street and is unsightly to say the least.

2) As a property owner in the immediate street behind Highfield House, should Crime rates rise our house values could plummet (our Police Station runs on skeleton staff and IS NOT manned 24 hours)

3) Highfield House is situated in a densely populated residential area with a high number of Elderly and Vulnerable occupants.

4) The site is with yards of local school DELTA North, a Dance School and a short distance again is Derwentside College.

5) The property is also within yards of the local Scout HQ, 1309 Consett Air Cadets, Durham Cadets.

6) Victoria Court is an assisted living complex, again for elderly and disabled residents within yards of Highfield House. 

These are the main reasons collectively for our objections to this planning proposal. 

We invite you to join us and sign this petition to show your own objection to these proposals. We intend to forward this petition along with a paper petition containing signatures from residents of Consett and the surrounding area to our local MP Richard Holden by May 14th 2022.

THANK YOU.