PROPOSALS for new houses in Ferryhill have been approved - despite objections from an estate agent in the area.

Hellens Developments has secured outline planning permission for 33 homes on a former building supplies depot and sand quarry, west of Gladstone Terrace.

But Peter Clark, who lives and runs an estate agents in Ferryhill, urged Sedgefield Borough Council's development control committee to refuse the plan on Friday.

He said the type of housing proposed, which included 20 percent affordable houses, was not needed in the town.

The developers included a number of affordable homes in the scheme, based on research by council officers about local housing needs.

But Mr Clark said the authority's own housing masterplan for the town, which will see troubled areas redeveloped, would ensure a sufficient supply of starter homes.

He said detached homes near the site had sold for as much as £300,000 recently, but new affordable flats had failed to sell to individual private buyers, so had been bought by an investor to rent out.

He said: "Ferryhill is an attractive, developing village and it is retaining more of its population than in previous years.

"I'm sure a development of higher quality and design, similar to the surrounding area, would be welcomed.

"The only residential area nearby is made up of detached, high-quality houses and dormer bungalows.

"Ferryhill has lifted itself out of the doldrums with the help of the borough council and a pro-active town council.

"I urge you to give the town a high-quality development - not the type a developer thinks it deserves."

Councillors heard from a company representative that Hellens had included the affordable element based on officers' assessments of local housing needs.

They were also told that Hellens was likely to sell the land with outline permission to another developer, so the details of the building work will be considered again with a new application.

Councillor Frank Forrest said: "I think developing this site will improve the link between the Broom ward and Ferryhill Station.

"We can think about detailed planning permission and the issues raised later."

Members unanimously approved the application.