A TOWN'S ongoing dispute over plans to build more than 156 homes has produced a further development.

The application to develop land at Station Fields, Shield Row, Stanley, has already been called in by the Government for a public inquiry because it is in a designated greenfield area.

Now the plan, itself a second attempt to build homes on the field, has been changed again.

Councillors at Derwentside District Council will now consider a plan to change the layout of the site and to build another 13 homes to make the total 169. Builders hope the new layout will ease the plan through the public inquiry.

The original plan to build 200 homes at the fields was refused by the council after a campaign by residents worried about traffic concerns.

But Bowey Homes and Dunelm Castle Homes had a second bid approved last year, which was called in by the Government Office for the North-East.

Darren Cuming, principal planning officer for the council, said the latest scheme included changing the range of house types to fit in better with Government advice.

He said the council should approve the changes ahead of the five-day public inquiry due to start on April 23.

He said: "A housing needs assessment is in preparation by the council and the preliminary findings indicate that there is a demand for new housing in Stanley, although this relates to smaller household sizes. The amendments to the layout have therefore tried to reflect this."

Campaigners against the scheme have argued that the field, used by schoolchildren for generations, provides a useful path. Increased traffic could endanger life and put more pressure on schools.

Councillors will discuss the latest development at Consett Civic Centre on Thursday.