PLANS for 190 new homes between two villages are due to be submitted in the next few weeks following a public consultation.

The owners of the land at Parkhill, between Bowburn and Coxhoe, already have outline permission for the controversial scheme.

Details of the proposals have now been released and preferred developers Keepmoat say they plan to submit them to Durham County Council next month.

Architectural manager Steven Burn said: “It’s a positive contribution to the area.

“There’s a Government incentive to provide 20 per cent affordable which we’re doing. With that there’s public open space which can be used by the wider community as well.

“It’s generally accepted there’s a need for this type of housing in the area.”

The homes will have two, three and four bedrooms, with 152 for private sale, 27 for affordable rent and 11 for discount market sale.

Residents in Parkhill and nearby villages were furious when the scheme was given the go ahead in September 2015, coming 11 months after the council refused development on the land.

Concerns were raised that the development will damage the countryside and there are not enough facilities in the area, including school places and GP services.

Jan Blakey, the area’s county councillor, said: “I did object to start off with, but we’ve got to deal with the planning application and to be honest they have listened to what people have told them about highways and traffic issues.

“We hope they take it all on board. Now it’s about trying to get the best for everyone.”

She added: “It’s hard because we know things have to move forward but we have had that much development over the last eight to ten years.

“We have to try to get as much as we can for the people around here.”

Youth worker Joanne Eden, who attended the consultation, said: “The issue is social housing.

“There just isn’t enough and it doesn’t seem like there’s going to be a lot here.”