THE site of plans for the region's first eco-village is likely to be developed with a housing estate.

People who strongly opposed proposals for the environmentally-friendly estate, in Newton Aycliffe, are expected to offer few objections to the new scheme.

Miller Homes has submitted a planning application to Sedgefield Borough Council to build 125 houses on the site at the Cobblers Hall area.

The previous application was the subject of a lengthy planning wrangle.

The plan had been for a high-density development of 113 houses with zinc roofs and large, south-facing windows to maximise solar energy.

But residents, who said they had not been consulted properly, said the scheme would be out of character with the rest of the estate, criticised the design, materials and layout, and raised concerns over pedestrian safety.

The council refused planning permission and the proposal was finally rejected at a public inquiry after an appeal by the applicants.

The new scheme, which will be considered by the council's development control committee on Friday, is thought to be more in-keeping with other surrounding estates.

The Cobblers Hall residents' committee, formed to fight the previous application, has been consulted.

Although there are some concerns over the density of the housing, which residents say is still too high, most of the other objections have been overcome.

Group member David Sutton-Lloyd said: "The development has a much safer road scheme. It has footpaths for a start. The houses will be built of brick and tiles and in a traditional style.

"It would integrate very well with the surrounding houses, which was our problem last time."

He said: "None of us has ever objected to building on that site and, even though this scheme would have even more houses than the previous one, I think everybody's happy with 90 per cent of this.

"I think they underestimated public opinion last time and one of the major problems was that this appeared to be going on behind closed doors for so long."

Planning officers, who have received no other objections to the application, will recommend councillors approve the scheme when they meet on Friday.