A FRESH plan to build homes on a controversial greenbelt site has been made, taking the number of proposed houses to more than 800.

Barratt Developments is seeking planning permission from Sedgefield Borough Council to build 274 houses on Whitworth Park in Spennymoor. The application is the third made by the company, which has already filed plans for 100 and 193 homes on separate plots.

The new application takes the number of proposed houses for the site, between Carr Lane and Burton Beck Woods, to 809.

Together Yuill and Bellway won permission in December 2003 to build 230 homes on the land and now want to vary the existing consent to build an extra 12 homes.

If the council backs the plans they must go to the Government Office North East, and possibly the Secretary of State for consideration, because they are on greenbelt land.

Director of planning at Sedgefield Borough Council, Charlie Walton said: "During the first referral to GONE this area was reclassified as greenfield due to permission granted in the 1960s for restoration work. Despite being an industrial area we have relatively few brownfield sites so have to consider greenfield developments.

"The new applications will be go before the development control committee as soon as practically possible."