PLANS to build 800 new houses next to one of the North-East's finest country homes have been unveiled by developers.

If it is given the go-ahead, the £50m development will be built next to Whitworth Hall, Spennymoor, in County Durham, the ancestral home of folk hero Bobby Shafto.

A consortium of developers comprising Bellway, Persimmon and Yuill had hoped to build on land at Whitworth Park, but was forced to withdraw because of changes to Government planning guidance.

Now it has returned with a new development which, it says, will be a vital cog in moves for regeneration of the town.

The proposals include a range of houses, from terraced and mews properties to large detached homes.

Work will start this autumn if councillors pass the plans. The consortium has also offered to redevelop part of Whitworth Park, adding two football pitches, changing rooms and a recreation area.

The original development was put forward in 1995 and involved building 600 homes and an 18-hole golf course on the park land. But the scheme ran into trouble because much of the land earmarked for house building was on green field land.

Seven years later, the proposals have been amended to comply with Government building regulations and 190 more homes added.

Chris Harrison, of planning consultants Nath-aniel, Lichfield and Partners, said: "It's been vastly reworked. The development has moved closer to Spennymoor town centre, so people can walk and cycle to the town centre, and the density of houses has been increased."

Bill Waters, leader of Spennymoor Town Council, said he was delighted with the plans.

He said: "I think any concerned residents should listen to planners. There will be a lot of traffic calming measures put in."

The plans are on display at Spennymoor Town Hall today, from 3pm to 7pm, where people can discuss the proposals with the development consortium and the council. They can also be viewed at the Sedgefield Borough Council offices.

Opposition councillor at Sedgefield borough, Ben Ord said: "I've asked for quite extensive consultation on this and for the public to get involved."