A COLONY of great crested newts is to be moved to a new home to make way for a housing development.

The Church Commissioners have been granted outline planning permission to build up to 50 houses on a field next to Station Road, in Coxhoe.

Members of Durham County Council’s Area Planning Committee were told the area is home to a small number of the protected amphibians which would be captured and moved to a larger site nearby.

Councillors, meeting at County Hall on Tuesday, voted unanimously to allow the development, despite residents' objections.

A separate planning application was submitted for 162 houses on the next door Bogma Hall Farm site and a decision on that application is still pending.

The City of Durham Trust, Durham Wildlife Trust, Coxhoe Community Partnership and the village medical practice all submitted objections.

Resident David Cherry told the meeting: “The proposal won’t bring any long term economic benefits to Coxhoe, it is very much a dormitory development”.

He said residents were concerned at the loss of the greenfield site and an increase of traffic emerging onto the busy A177.

However, councillors heard Coxhoe was earmarked for housing growth and officials did not believe the development would impact on road safety.

Applicants’ agent Gemma Field told the committee that “a small and isolated population” of great crested newts would be moved.

She said the development would include a mix of housing types, including 20 per cent affordable housing, and would help sustain local services.

She told councillors: “The proposal will deliver a sustainable development, helping to deliver wider economic, social and environmental benefits in the area, while no adverse impacts have been identified.”