COUNCILLORS have approved the finer details of an controversial housing scheme which attracted more than 200 hundreds of letters of objection last year.

The Planning Inspectorate approved Taylor Wimpey’s outline plans for 220 new homes on land to the south of Eden Drive in Sedgefield in October, despite two rejections from Durham County Council’s planning committee.

On Tuesday, the committee had to consider the reserved matters for the scheme, which has been reduced to 197 homes. This included looking at the design, layout and landscaping of the development.

An access point off Stockton Road with a new priority junction and ghost island right turn lane, plus the formation of a new arm at the roundabout on the A689 had already been approved.

John Foster, of Taylor Wimpey, said the developers had taking residents’ concerns into account, adding: “This is a scheme I will feel proud of when it is finished.”

However, Julia Bowles, of Sedgefield Village Action, remained unconvinced.

“This is a development that is not wanted and is considered not needed by the clear majority of the community and yourselves as a planning committee,” she said.

“Sadly, your planning officers continued to support the development which will result in the loss of open countryside and a much-loved walk.”

Councillor John Clare said: “I didn’t want houses to be built there but now that they are going to be built I find the appearance, landscaping and scale proposed to be appropriate.”

The committee voted to approve the reserved matters.