COUNCIL planners fear a proposed housing scheme for the outskirts of Spennymoor would harm another development planned for the town.

Developer George Wimpey Ltd has applied to Sedgefield Borough Council for permission to build 135 homes on farmland off Grayson Road, Middlestone Moor.

But planning officers will urge the development control committee to refuse the application when it meets on Friday, in an attempt to ensure the success of the larger Whitworth Park scheme is not compromised.

Wimpey's proposals are for a mixture of detached, semi-detached and terrace houses next to a recently completed development by McLean Homes, off Bluebell Drive.

When councillors granted permission to McLean Homes for the first phase of work, they were aware that a further application for new homes could follow.

So they put in place a condition that phase two could not go ahead until work had started on at least 400 homes at Whitworth Park, which the council regards as key to the regeneration of Spennymoor.

Despite being allocated for housing eight years ago, not a single brick has been laid at Whitworth because of a succession of planning hold-ups.

A report which goes before councillors on Friday says that Wimpey's application is premature and "would have a negative impact upon the development of Whitworth".

It adds: "Given the importance of the Whitworth development in the regeneration of Spennymoor it is important not to allow the release of this major housing site in Spennymoor before construction of 400 dwellings has been commenced."

Officers also feel the proposed layout does not create an attractive streetscape, is inward looking and is designed with cars in mind instead of people. Neighbours have also objected. They say that extra traffic would be disruptive and a proposed access road, increasing the number of junctions on a 400 metre stretch of road to five, would be dangerous.

Residents are also worried about the burden on local services, the use of open land for building and the impact on wildlife.