THE Government has called in a planning application to build more than 156 homes in a County Durham town.

The Government Office for the North-East has ordered that a public inquiry must now be held into the plan to build the homes at Station Fields in Shield Row, Stanley.

The Government has ruled the application must be looked at again because it relates to a greenfield site. It is Government policy to encourage building in town centres and cities.

Derwentside District Council approved the scheme earlier this year despite concerns from residents that the new estate would cause major traffic problems.

The council had to refer the application by law because Station Fields is designated a greenfield site. Derwentside has approved hundreds of new homes in recent years, many expected to be bought by Tyneside commuters.

Residents are concerned because a home would have to be demolished in road-widening plans which would go ahead if the application were granted.

It is also claimed that the field, used by local children for generations, provides a useful path, particularly for Tanfield School pupils.

Protestor Mary Finlaw said a petition of more than 200 names had been gathered on a previous occasion when developers unsuccessfully applied to alter the main road running through the area and build homes.

She said: "Notices have only just gone up that there is to be a public inquiry even though the council must have known about it for some time.

"There are a number of issues here and we are glad there is now a chance that sense may prevail and this may be stopped.

"Apart from the field itself, which is the only area of greenery we have left, this is the main road to Newcastle from Stanley and this can be very dangerous as it is.

"With these alterations, and with this new junction, the cars are just going to travel even faster."

Principal planning officer at the council, Darren Cuming said: "This is the first call-in dealt with in recent times by the council and the authority will need appropriate legal representation bearing in mind the uniqueness of the situation."

Bowey Homes and Dunelm (Castle) Homes have applied to develop the site, which runs between the C2C cycle route and Shield Row industrial estate