PLANS to build homes on the site of a former school have been approved.

Prince Bishop Homes has been given the go ahead for its proposals for the former Plawsworth Road Infant School in Sacriston, near Chester-le-Street.

It involves building 21 homes, including three and four bedroomed detached, semi-detached and terrace units on the council owned site.

Around £21,000 from the sale of the land will be used to provide play equipment for children in the area.

Durham County Council received four objections from local residents.

Senior planning officer Steve France said: “The principal concern relates to the capacity of the existing roads to accommodate the additional traffic that would be generated.

“Additional concerns relate to the loss of trees, potential loss of hedgerow, a claimed height difference between the site and existing properties, and disruption during building works both for residents, and one neighbour’s pond fish.

“It is contended by one resident that the site has too many dwellings proposed, with a 50 per cent reduction being proposed, and benefits the developer over local residents.

“One correspondent complains at a lack of consultation by the developer.

Sacriston Parish Council wrote a letter to note the objections of local residents and echoing the concerns relating to the unsafe access onto Plawsworth Road, and the capacity of the access road.

Stephen Jackson, from Prince Bishop Homes, who was at the meeting, said: “There will be small amount of properties offered for sale but up to 75 per cent will be offered for rent. They will be offered at market rent with the option to buy after four years.

“The people we rent to are generally what you call ‘generation rent’. They have reasonable incomes, are generally in their mid-thirties, are couples or singles but have no deposits and have messed up their credit histories in a lot of cases.

“We work with them to show how they can save and get them into a position where they are mortgage ready.”

Steve France wrote a report urging members of the committee to approve the scheme, which they did at a a meeting at County Hall in Durham.

He said: “In terms of principle, the application site is considered to be in a sustainable location with the development proposed on previously developed, ‘brownfield’ land.

“The residential amenity issues raised and loss of trees have been assessed and are not felt to be of a degree that could sustain a refusal.”