A GOVERNMENT department is seeking planning permission to develop more than 200 homes in Newton Aycliffe.

The Homes and Communities Agency has submitted the application to build the 226 houses on agricultural land at Eldon Whins, north of Middridge Road along the western edge of the town.

As part of the scheme the planners are proposing to construct a new roundabout to provide access to the housing estate.

Great Aycliffe Town Council leader, Councillor Bob Fleming, said although it was yet to come before the council he was "personally in favour of it".

"I think developments are very important," added Cllr Fleming. "It's got to be a good mix of houses. There is a big need for bungalows here but it is important to attract young people and we want to retain the young people here.

"There is a tendency for people to move out because of the lack of suitable accommodation."

Cllr Fleming said an application for the site had been expected for a number of years following the the extension of Newton Aycliffe's boundaries in the 1980s.

The proposed site, located 2km north west of the town centre, would be made up of two, three, four and five-bedroom homes.

More than 100 of the houses are proposed to be three-bedroomed while 15 per cent of the whole development would be affordable.

In the proposal the applicant stated: "The scheme will have character and identity making it an attractive place to live.

"The development will contain a mix of housing to encourage a balanced community to complement the existing community of Newton Aycliffe.

"The site would have strong pedestrian connectivity to the neighbouring settlement and outwards across the open countryside."

The design is expected to accommodate around 600 people and also incorporates a variety of open spaces including parks, informal and equipped play areas.

The applicant said: "This ensures that informal sport and leisure activities are catered for within the development and allows children to walk to play facilities without needing to cross Middridge Road."

Great Aycliffe Town Council will be informed of the application at a meeting next week before being discussed by the environmental committee in around three weeks.