RESIDENTS are preparing for their toughest battle yet in a campaign to block plans for new homes.

Last year, Wimpey Homes and Bryant Homes applied for permission to build 193 houses in fields at Rainton Gate, West Rainton, under a ten-year-old agreement for up to 229 homes on the site.

The development was held up because of a condition that the builders provide a grade-separated junction on the A690, between Durham and Sunderland, which they considered too expensive.

They offered to construct a traffic light junction instead, as well as helping Durham County Council to fund a new park-and-ride complex, at Carrville.

While the county council agreed to this, Durham City Council rejected the proposal.

The move was welcomed by residents, who formed an action group to block the development, saying it would cause traffic problems, ruin West Rainton's character and lead to further expansion.

A public inquiry into the matter was scheduled for December but, before it began, the builders pulled out.

Now, Wimpey has submitted new proposals for a different development, comprising 308 properties, on the same site.

Lesley King, of the West Rainton Action Group, said it would fight even harder this time to ensure they were never built.

"I guess they were hoping to wear us down, but there is no way in the world they are going to do that," she said.

"All along, the majority of residents have been against building houses and extending our village.

"This latest plan defies belief. We shall oppose it more strongly than ever, and we will be better prepared this time, because we know how the system works."

Unlike the last application, for executive homes, the latest is for a range of houses, aimed at different markets.

A Wimpey spokesman denied that the development would spoil West Rainton.

"Wimpey Homes has a track record of designing buildings which are sympathetic to their environment, and the planning application at West Rainton is an excellent example of this," he said.

"It has been submitted in accordance with the Government's new guidelines, which encourage increased density of homes to make the best use of land.