A planning inspector has rejected an appeal for a waste transfer station.

Durham County Council had turned down an application for the change of use of a farm building at Tribley Farm, Hett Farm, Hell Hills, Pelton Fell, Chester-le-Street.

It said it was not an appropriate location and was against its planning rules

Stuart Storey, trading as Chester-le-Street Skip Hire, appealed against the decision and a hearing was held in October.

The inspector decided there was no need for the facility in the location.

He also ruled that the proposal would conflict, to a material degree, with the relevant policies of the adopted County Structure Plan and the emerging Durham Waste Local Plan.

He found it would have a materially harmful effect upon the character and appearance of the countryside.