RESIDENTS in an exclusive village have voiced their relief after plans to site thousands of poultry on their doorsteps were deferred.

Derwentside District Council's development control committee voted last week to undertake a site visit to Derwent Oak Farm, in Hamsterley Mill, where landowner Bill Spry wants to establish a free range egg business with 12,000 hens.

The scheme has ruffled the feathers of residents in the village, where house prices average £400,000. They fear smells from the unit will affect their quality of life and cause house prices to plummet.

The development includes a 6m high shed measuring 83 metres by 20m, plus two, 12-tonne feed silos more than 6m high and a 1.2m electric fence around the perimeter.

Villagers in the community, which numbers less than 200 homes, spent more than £3,000 of their own money commissioning an independent study into the development. They also sent in more than 180 letters of objection, along with a 200-plus signature petition.

More than 50 objectors packed the council chamber at Consett Civic Centre for the council meeting.

The site visit will take place on May 5, at 10am, and the council is expected to make a final decision later this month.