OBJECTORS have failed to persuade council planning officials that new homes would increase traffic levels.

Wear Valley District Council's development control committee approved an application by Broseley Homes to build 42 houses on land east of Old Hall Farm Road, St Helen Auckland.

Outline planning permission was given for the site three years ago, but three applications for larger developments were subsequently refused.

People living close to the site say the access along Old Hall Farm Road is inadequate.

Spokesman Russell Stapleton told the meeting the development would cause a 300 per cent increase in traffic at the junction with the A688.

"The road is narrow and there are tyre tracks where vehicles have mounted the kerbs to pass," he said.

"This will bring added dangers to children and pedestrians and the risk of accidents will increase."

The highways authority, Durham County Council, raised no objection to the plans, which were passed subject to a number of conditions, including one requiring a survey to see if any protected species live in the farm buildings.

The council's deputy leader, Councillor Neil Stonehouse, said: "This site already has outline permission. If this committee has already said it has no objection to development, it is inconceivable that it can now say it does object."