COUNCILLORS have approved a major housing scheme on agricultural land on the edge of an east Durham town, despite objections from residents that it is “too big and not needed”.

Partner Construction has been granted outline permission to build up to 250 new homes on land to the south east of Stewart Drive, Wingate.

The homes will be built to the south of another development of 161 homes granted outline permission in March 2014 and now subject of a detailed application.

Members of Durham County Council area planning committee meeting yesterday granted permission with a beefed up condition stipulating that at least 50 homes had to be completed on the first development before building began on the second site, for visual reasons.

Once completed, both schemes will boost the population of Wingate by about 1,000 people, or 20 per cent. The meeting was told there were eight letters of objection from residents, who argued the existing services, including GP practices and schools would not be able to cope with the extra demand.

Speaking on behalf of objectors, ward councillor Leo Taylor said he was concerned over the number of houses built in the village over the last ten years.

He said: “We when we did a quick run around the village we found there were 138 houses are either for sale, boarded up or empty.

“As recently as last August there was a permission was granted for six houses opposite my house. Out of them four had been boarded up because they could not be sold.”

Cllr Taylor said there were also concerns about increased traffic entering Wellfield Road from the estate.

Recommending approval, senior planning officer Steven Pilkington, said the applicant would be making a contribution of £715,540 to help increase primary school capacity. He added highway improvement works were proposed at the A181/A19 junction and A181 Wellfield Road.

He said: “The proposals will result in some limited adverse harm but this is significantly outweigh by the social and economic benefits of new housing on the site.”

Speaking on behalf of the developer Martyn Earle said there was an overwhelming need for the housing and the scheme would bring a economic benefits.

Councillor Fraser Tinsley said if the the development to the north did not go ahead latest development would just be “plonked into the landscape” and have a significant visual impact. The committee agreed to a condition requiring 50 homes be built on the first before the second scheme could proceed.