RESIDENTS fear plans to build 28 affordable homes on the outskirts of their village could lead to the decline of an area already plagued by empty, boarded up houses.

Almost 300 residents of Trimdon Station, near Sedgefield, have signed the Save Our Fields online petition opposing Esh Property Services’ proposal to build new homes on a greenfield site to the south of Wingate Road.

The developers say the scheme would help meet the demand for affordable properties in East Durham, where there is a net shortfall of 203 such houses per annum.

However, campaigners dispute the need for new homes in the village, claiming the shortfall relates to Peterlee and Seaham.

Martin Tully, who helped set up Save Our Fields, highlighted how there are already properties standing empty in Trimdon Station and said the problem could get worse if the development went ahead.

“I am very concerned about the privately rented properties on St Aidans Terrace, Station Road and other surrounding streets becoming abandoned and left vacant or worse as the demand for them diminishes,” he said.

“I have seen evidence of this in other areas such as Easington, Horden, and Wheatley hill, with rows and rows of housing left boarded up and vandalised.”

If it goes ahead, the development would comprise a mixture of two and three-bedroom homes and two-bedroom bungalows.

The properties would be owned and managed by a housing association.

But Mr Tully, 35, believes Esh Property Services failed to give residents the full picture at a recent consultation event.

When he asked why there were dead end roads on the site plan, he was told the field had the potential to house 130 new homes.

“For a small village like ours this would almost be a 20 per cent population increase,” he added.

Mr Tully’s fears are echoed on the Save Our Fields’ website (saveourfields.org.uk).

One resident wrote: “There is already too many houses empty and up for rent in my street alone without more being built.

“The idea of building more houses in an area where there are already no jobs or amenities is ludicrous.”

Others raised concerns about road safety, the impact on nearby primary schools, and the loss of wildlife and open space. Esh Property Services were unavailable to comment.