PROPOSALS for the North-East's first eco-village have been thrown out by planners after a late intervention by highways chiefs.

More than 80 objectors, who packed the council chamber to hear the application yesterday, applauded as councillors refused permission for the estate to be built in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.

Developers Aire Design had wanted to build 113 environmentally-friendly houses, with solar panels, zinc roofs and large south-facing windows, in the Cobblers Hall area of town.

The idea was to create an innovative, energy-efficient and sustainable housing estate, called Hall Gardens.

But the scheme drew unprecedented levels of mail from objectors, who criticised the design of the houses, said it was in the wrong place and questioned its credentials as a genuine eco-village.

Planners at Sedgefield Borough Council had nevertheless recommended the application should be approved - until they received a letter from Durham County Council on the eve of the meeting.

The letter said the county had asked developers for clarification on a number of highway issues, including traffic calming measures, the position of footpaths and visibility at junctions, but no discussions had taken place.

Borough planner Charlie Walton said county officers told him they were "perturbed" by the highway design.

As a result, he changed his recommendation to one of refusal because the proposed design would be detrimental to the safety of pedestrians and other road users.

Aire Design representative John Lowe described the late change in the recommendation as "monstrous" and called for the application to be deferred.

He said: "For four years, every encouragement has been given to the applicant to proceed with this scheme."

Mr Lowe saw the letter for the first time half an hour before the meeting, and added: "I would respectfully suggest that for the application to be determined in this way is contrary to the rules of natural justice, because the applicants have not been given and opportunity to deal with the points that the county council have raised at the very last moment."

But members, who unanimously rejected the application, said the developers had had plenty of time to liaise with the county on these matters.

After the meeting, objector David Sutton-Lloyd said: "We are pleased on behalf of all the residents.

"One of the major concerns of the residents was safety and we are pleased that Durham County Council has reflected that."