A PROPERTY developer hoping to build 140 houses and a supermarket on the outskirts of a County Durham town has made a partial U-turn.

Story Homes submitted the application to Durham County Council in July last year to build on green land south of Dean Road in Ferryhill.

The applicant has since amended the application, withdrawing the 1600sqm supermarket and replacing it with an additional 41 homes.

It is understood the applicant made the changes after Durham County Council published a retail needs assessment that identified no need for a discount food store within the town, contrary to the assessment published a few years before.

Stuart Timmiss, head of planning and assets at Durham County Council, said: “The assessment in 2013 identified there was potentially capacity for a new food store within Ferryhill, subject to finding a site within the town centre or one which would not impact negatively on it.

“Following a search for appropriate sites, which included land owners and operators, we ultimately concluded that there were no suitable sites to deliver a new store that would not detrimentally impact on existing retailers in Ferryhill town centre.

“A further retail and town centre needs assessment was carried out in late 2016, which will be published soon.

“Changes such as more accessibility to delivery services, as well as people spending less in supermarkets, has led to this marginal need being reconsidered.”

Story Homes consulted the public on a development of 200 homes and a 1,600sqm food store for the same location in May 2014 which prompted local residents to launch a campaign against the proposal.

During the consultation period some of the concerns raised by residents included whether schools had the capacity to accommodate more pupils, the increase in traffic, the impact on views, and the risk of flooding. Residents also said the development would be “an eyesore on a lovely green area”.

Members of the public have until Tuesday, June 13, to comment on the application which can be viewed online at: publicaccess.durham.gov.uk/online-applications searching reference DM/16/02426/OUT.

Ferryhill Community Action Group will meet tomorrow at Ferryhill Catholic Club, on Dean Road, at 7pm where residents and local business owners are invited to discuss the amended planning application.