Residents fear homeowners will be put at risk from crashes and traffic on the nearby A19, after a proposal for 38 homes was approved.

The new housing development is due to be built on land to the west of Easington Village, between an existing housing estate and the A19 flyover.

Councillors on Durham County Council’s planning committee approved the application on Tuesday but heard from several residents who say the village is becoming overpopulated, with work to create more housing already underway.

A total of 57 people objected to the plans, as opposed to just two letters of support that were submitted to the council. The site is of particular significance after outline planning consent for 24 homes was refused in 2020 due to the its proximity to the A19.

Julie Catterall, a resident whose garden backs onto the proposed housing site, says the A19 “roars” at peak times due to the high volume of cars on the road and worries that a car could crash over the nearby flyover and onto the land below.

“My concern is, given that we have had a lot of incidents on that road lately, something will come over the top; I witnessed one in 1980,” she told councillors.

The Northern Echo: Julie Catterall, a resident whose garden backs onto the proposed housing site, says the A19 “roars” at peak times due to the high volume of cars Julie Catterall, a resident whose garden backs onto the proposed housing site, says the A19 “roars” at peak times due to the high volume of cars (Image: Google)

Traffic issues on the Hall Walks road (B1283) were also raised by local councillor Angela Surtees, who said 7,084 vehicles were caught speeding over 30mph in a one-week period in 2021 on the road, and that traffic concerns outweigh the need for the development.

But a council officer responded by saying the road is “not an issue site”.

Cllr Surtees added: “Easington Village is becoming very overpopulated in housing. This development is just simply in the wrong place. I feel that there’s other areas of the community where housing would be better situated.”

Graham Hill, another nearby resident who also objected to the proposal, urged councillors to put “people before profit” after saying residents aren’t being listened to.

“This is a development that is not wanted and is not needed,” he said. “There are already multiple developments underway in Easington Village. It feels like we’re under siege – this is just a step too far.

“The views of residents seem to be swept aside in favour of profit.”

The Northern Echo: Up to 38 new homes will be built on land between an existing housing estate and the A19 Up to 38 new homes will be built on land between an existing housing estate and the A19 (Image: Google)

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Lee Fulcher, speaking on behalf of the applicant, said the applicant is working with local social housing provider Believe Housing to create a “100 per cent” affordable development.

He added that there has been an overwhelming response to a development it is building elsewhere in the community and sees this site as an opportunity to provide more.

Councillors admitted they sympathised with residents but recognised the need for more affordable housing. The proposal was unanimously approved.