PLANS to transform a former hospital site into a massive housing development are causing concern for residents in a picturesque north Durham village.

English Partnerships wants to find a developer to build up to 450 homes on the Shotley Bridge Hospital land.

But villagers fear their amenities will not be able to cope with the population increase that will come with the development.

They are concerned the village primary school and medical services will be overwhelmed by too many new residents.

Benfieldside ward councillor Derek Hume said: "There are a number of people with concerns about this plan.

"They are worried about the impact on the infrastructure, the increase in traffic and the access to the site.

"We do not know where these people are going to find more doctors, nurses, dentists and schools."

Fellow ward councillor Keith English said people felt the development was far too big for a small village like Shotley Bridge.

He said: "It will totally change the character of the village.

"Not many years ago Shotley Bridge was a little village that was separated from the surrounding area but we have had a lot of developments.

"There is a lot of concern about the extra traffic and the pressure it will put on the infrastructure."

English Partnerships took over the land from the NHS as part of a portfolio of 96 former hospital sites.

The proposal is part of Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott's plan to create more affordable housing throughout the country, with a mixture of houses and flats.

An outline planning application was submitted to Derwentside District Council when the land was owned by the NHS, but now English Partnerships is in talks with the authority about how to take the plan forward.

English Partnerships regeneration manager John Calvert said: "A lot of the comments we have had are about the numbers but we do not know how many there will be yet.

"We will be asking developers to submit designs to us and if they are of a suitable quality standard, only then do we discuss financial contracts.

"People get alarmed when they hear about the number of houses that could be built on the site but the answer is to wait until we get the detailed plans drawn up."