OUTLINE plans to build three houses on the site of a former County Durham slaughterhouse look likely to be approved.

The application, by Philip Thompson, at Hamsterley, in Teesdale, has been recommended for approval by planning officers at Teesdale District Council.

A letter of objection from a neighbouring resident says the site might be a green field site which has previously been used for agricultural use.

It adds the proposed houses would be an invasion of privacy and there would be problems with delivery vehicles negotiating the access to the site.

Two previous applications to build houses at the site have been refused.

However, following an appeal to one of the refusals, planning inspector Dennis Johnson, said the site should be classified as previously developed land.

Planning officer Wendy Thompson said: "The application is in outline and, whilst no details of the design of the houses has been submitted, the inspector considers that a terrace of two-storey houses would not necessarily be obtrusive or out of character with the village as a whole."

Teesdale council's planning committee will discuss the application on Wednesday at 5.30pm.