We, the undersigned residents of the Skylarks Estate, strongly object to elements of the proposed reserved matters application for the development of 452 dwellings (CHE/25/00224/REM), specifically the use of Whinfell Road as the main and only access route during the construction phases and potentially as a through-road for the completed development.

Grounds for Objection Based on Material Planning Considerations:
Highway Safety and Traffic Impact:
Whinfell Road is already experiencing increased traffic and dangerous speeding. The proposed plan would funnel HGVs and site traffic through our estate, increasing the risk to pedestrians, particularly children who play and walk in the area. This poses serious highway safety concerns, with potential for accidents, noise pollution, and disruption.

Inappropriate Construction Traffic Route:
The developer’s plan defers the connection to Dunston Road until the final phase (Phase 5), resulting in years of construction traffic through a quiet residential estate. This decision is unacceptable and unfair to current residents.

Loss of Residential Amenity:
The character and tranquillity of the Skylarks Estate will be undermined by continuous construction vehicle movement, dust, noise, and safety hazards. This devalues the enjoyment of our homes and quality of life.

Poor Planning Integration and Misrepresentation:
Many residents were not aware that the estate would be used as a major access point. The original outline application (CHE/21/00549/OUT) failed to communicate this clearly to current homeowners, leading to perceptions of misrepresentation and mistrust.

Lack of Independent Access for New Development:
We urge the council to reconsider the access strategy. A separate dedicated entry point from Dunston Road and/or Dunston Lane should be used from the outset to protect the integrity and safety of the Skylarks Estate.

Request:
We respectfully request that:

The council rejects the current reserved matters plan in its current form, particularly the access arrangements via Whinfell Road.

The developer is required to deliver a dedicated access route via Dunston Road or another non-residential link from the earliest phase of construction.

The council holds a public meeting or consultation session specifically for Skylarks Estate residents to fully engage on this issue.