CONTROVERSIAL plans for a major housing development between two east Durham villages are likely to be approved by councillors on Tuesday (April 12).

Durham county councillors are being recommended to give outline permission for 26 new homes on land north of Little Thorpe – within sight of Easington across rolling agricultural fields.

The plans by have come under fire from neighbouring residents with five letters of objection submitted, including one from Easington Village Parish Council.

They cite fears of poor visibility from the proposed site onto the highway, obstructions to the existing rights of way and over-development.

Various residential schemes have been approved for the area over the years, with an existing permission for 13 homes due to expire on May 24.

The village of Little Thorpe has grown from a farmstead and now has a mix of around 20 dwellings.

The site of the proposed development was formerly occupied by agricultural and packaging buildings, which have since been demolished.

The applicant, George Simpson of the Sunderland-based Fitz Architects, says the proposal is "very low density" and would comprise a mix of four and five-bedroom “high-quality family homes”.

He says the development of the site would add to the overall housing stock of the village and its potential to maintain and support the existing local services and facilities.

Recommending approval, council planning officers say the principle of residential development on this site has been accepted through previous planning applications as well as appeal decisions.

A report to Tuesday's committee meeting says: “The site is the redevelopment of brownfield land and... is considered to form part of the built up area of the settlement of Little Thorpe, therefore there would be no encroachment into the open countryside.”

It adds that the main access point, situated to the south west corner of the site, would be acceptable. The Highways Authority has not raised any objections, subject to widened footways being introduced.

The proposed development would deliver the full amount of affordable housing (ten per cent) and would not compromise highway safety, the report concludes.

Just to the edge of the village, an outline application for 900 new dwellings has also recently been approved.