PLANS to demolish a pig farm and replace it with new houses in a rural village have been submitted to Durham County Council.

Matthew and Tracy Betney, of Broom Mill Farm, have submitted plans to build 12 homes at the pig farm they own in the centre of Hamsterley, near Bishop Auckland.

The couple are hoping to build seven three-bedroom and three four-bedroom houses along with two two-bedroom affordable homes on the site at Green View.

If approved, the homes would take on the appearance of a converted farmstead building.

A new road would also be built to access the 0.82 hectare site and 26 car parking spaces would be created.

In documents submitted with the application, the couple said: "The removal of a highly inappropriate and nuisance use from the structure of the village would be of significant benefit both to the appearance of the area and the quality of life for residents of the village."

Graeme Plews, of the council's education department, said families moving into the homes could see an increase in four pupils at the village's Hamsterley Primary School while two additional pupils, of secondary school age, would attend Wolsingham School.

No objections were raised.

Durham County Councillor for Evenwood, Heather Smith, said she hoped the application would be approved, especially as it "will provide much-needed new housing in this very popular village, especially the two affordable homes".

She said: "The pig farm has been there for many years but it is not ideally situated in the middle of the village.

"At my county councillor's surgeries local residents have attended to complain about the smell from the pig farm which they say affects their lifestyle and their health. The new owners have done what they can to ameliorate the smell but it is impossible to farm pigs without some smell affecting the vicinity.

"As they now have to choose between investing in new buildings and facilities at the farm, or developing the site for housing, in my view the latter represents a more appropriate use of the land."

She added: "I fully support it and hope that it will be approved."

Edwin Fayle, chairman of Hamsterley and District Social Club, said the club also supported the plans although members had some concerns over access to the site.