Plans have been submitted for a new 125-home development on Woodham Way.
Chapter Homes, formed by Durham County Council to improve the county’s housing offer, wants planning permission to build on 4.2 hectares of land known as Agnew 5.
The area of land is currently under developed but has previously been allocated for residential use.
In an application to Durham County Council, Chapter Homes says the development would include 10 two-bed houses, 83 three-bed and 20 four-bed houses, of which 13 would be affordable and 33 would be market rented homes.
The application statement says: “The overall development has been carefully designed to provide a high-quality scheme that is appropriate in scale, density and mix of accommodation and responds to the needs of the local area.
“Landscaping has heavily informed the design of the layout to ensure the proposed scheme sits comfortably within local context and enhances the quality of places for people to live”.
A public consultation exercise was held at the Pioneering Care Partnership, Cobblers Hall, in June.
The applicant said overall response was favourable and most people were happy with the design of the properties and that houses would not be crammed into the site.
Concerns were raised that it would lead to traffic problems, loss of wildlife and natural space, building would cause noise and dust and that local infrastructure such as schools and sewerage works could not cope.
A handful of complaints have since been made in relation to the application.
Nearby resident Mr Peacock said: “The development of this area is going to ruin a substantial amount of woodland and wildlife, deer, pheasants, wild birds and grey heron.
“Having lived in our home for 32 ½ years our peace and quality of life is going to be ruined when building work starts with the associated noise and dust.
“The plans show very little space between the new build and our house. Notification would be appreciated when work is due to commence.
“Both my wife and I have retired and this is the last thing we wanted in our twilight years. A fence of some height would negate some of building work around our garden.”
The plan is due to be listed for a decision by councillors by the middle of October.
