A DEVELOPER hopes to build almost 300 new homes on a controversial site next to one of County Durham's most famous country halls.

Barratt Developments is seeking planning permission to erect 298 houses near the ancestral home of folk hero Bobby Shafto at Whitworth Hall, in Spennymoor.

The company has filed two plans, for 100 and 198 homes on separate plots to the west of High Whitworth Farm.

Sedgefield Borough Councillor Ben Ord has urged residents to give their views as soon as possible. There was controversy when the area was allocated for about 800 homes in the local plan.

A Barratt spokesman said: "The site is allocated for residential development in the local plan, and we believe there is strong demand for new homes in the area."

In December last year, the council granted permission for a consortium of three developers - Bellway, Persimmon and Yuill - to build 230 homes on part of the land. That application was passed amid a dispute over the environmental status of the land.

As a former pit heap, it was originally classed as a brownfield site but, because of restoration work done on the countryside, some parties felt it should be considered greenfield.

At the time, Coun Ord called for public consultation following petitions from residents who said the scheme would ruin an area of outstanding natural beauty.

He said: "After an archaeological survey by Durham County Council, the site was reclassified as greenfield land, so I moved that it should go back out to public consultation.

"I hope that this time everyone tells us what they think of the proposal before it goes to committee."

No date has been set for consideration of the plans.