PROPOSALS for a housing development designed to help breathe new life into a village have been provisionally approved.

Stephen Byers, the secretary of state for transport, *ocal government and the regions, has given his support to the 145-property development, at Ushaw Moor.

Subject to it gaining full planning permission, the Durham Villages Regeneration Company will go ahead with construction work, reinvesting the money from house sales in the village.

The secretary of state's decision comes after he called the plans in for consideration, earlier this year.

His report praises Durham City Council for its handling of the matter.

It states: "The council's consideration of the issues has been both thorough and comprehensive."

He said he would leave the development in its hands.

The development is made up of low-cost homes for first-time buyers, made up of detached, semi-detached and terraced properties, as well as bungalows, available to buy or rent.

It includes landscaping and open space. The city council is to provide additional green areas and a new football pitch.

The first signs of improvement have appeared in Ushaw Moor, which is covered by the Lower Deerness Valley Settlement Renewal Initiative and a £900,000 Single Regeneration Budget grant.

Now, Durham Villages Regeneration, a joint venture between Durham City Council and the Keepmoat company, aims to bring new jobs, investment and a better quality of life to the village.

The leader of Durham City Council, councillor Maurice Crathorne said: "This is the best news possible for people in Ushaw Moor.

"If the application is approved, it will put in place some of the priorities that local people have told us they most need."