A CONTROVERSIAL housing development on a village recreation field looks likely to be approved today.

Durham City Council's development control committee will be recommended to grant planning permission for 148 homes to be built on land south of Broom Lane, in Ushaw Moor.

In December, councillors decided they were "minded" to approve the application, but referred it to Transport, Regions and Local Government Secretary Stephen Byers, because it conflicted with policies on loss of open space.

Last month, Mr Byers announced that he was leaving the decision on the scheme with the council as it had given "thorough and comprehensive" consideration to the issues.

The application has been lodged by the Durham Villages Regeneration Company, set up by the city council and Doncaster developer Keepmoat.

The scheme is seen as a flagship component of the Single Regeneration Budget revitalisation of the former pit villages in the Lower Deerness Valley.

But some residents opposed the development, saying it would take recreation land and create houses for which there was little need.

They said the council was being premature in deciding the application before the outcome of a public enquiry into the authority's development blueprint for the whole district.

They tried to have the land registered as a village green but the application was rejected by Durham County Council.

Ushaw Moor Labour councillor Phil Stoddart said: "The housing scheme is the flagship of regeneration in Ushaw Moor. It is about renewing the heart of a dying village.''

He said an increase in the village's population would reverse the trend of falling rolls in its schools and could encourage businesses to take over empty shops.

A report to the committee says the development will bring in funds for regeneration and help to improve the village environment.

"This investment will be used alongside match funding contributions from the public sector and directly exclusively towards the Lower Deerness Valley generally and Ushaw Moor in particular.

"As such it represents a unique opportunity to harness public sector partnerships in support of a significant initiative."