A FORMER dog track site is once again being looked at by developers who want to build houses on the land.

Pillars Construction Ltd has applied to Durham County Council for planning permission for 110 houses on the old greyhound racing stadium site at Spennymoor.

In the early 1900s the land was occupied by a brickworks.

The dog track closed in the 1990s and suffered from vandalism before the 2.4hectare site was cleared.

It has stood empty ever since, despite a series of proposals for the land.

An outline plan for 100 houses was approved in 2007 and renewed in 2012 but none of the schemes ever went ahead.

With hundreds of new homes being built or planned in and around the town, many residents have concerns about local services and amenities such as schools and roads being overwhelmed.

But Smith and Love Planning Consultants, representing the applicant, states: “This history demonstrate that the site represents a suitable and appropriate location for new housing in Spennymoor, with the council having supported earlier schemes.

“The proposed developments is not dissimilar in terms of its overall scale and form, but seeks to provide a layout which reflects the potential of the site.”

Pillars wants consent for a mix of homes from one-bedroom apartments to four-bedroom detached houses, ten per cent of which would be affordable.

The properties would be arranged around a central road replicating the old race track lines and vehicular access to the estate would come off Merrington Lane.

The scheme also calls for the diversion and upgrading of a public footpath.

Spennymoor Town Councillor Christine Sproat has raised concerns about the proposal, particularly changes to existing paths which she says provide safe and direct access to the town centre avoiding the A688 by-pass.

Her concerns include the impact on wheelchair users who travel the route to the Jubilee Centre and many people who use it for dog walking, which will increase with new homes already being built.

She said: “The safety of pedestrians is paramount and in its current state, that planning application is of great concern.

“I would like to see compromises which would benefit the current residents and workers and not the builders.”

The scheme does not include any public open space, as the applicant feels there is already sufficient provision on the doorstep.

Consultation runs until March 28, with the application expected to go to councillors for a decision by June.