CONTROVERSIAL plans for almost 100 new homes surrounding a leafy village have been derailed after councillors unanimously rejected the application.

Residents spoke of the impact the development at Kirklevington would have on their lives with one parent saying he had ‘sleepless nights’ worrying about his children’s safety.

Stockton Borough Council’s planning committee heard four separate planning applications for developments around the village.

Speaking about the 90-home application off St Martin's Way, father-of-two Michael Tyerman said: “This proposal has given me sleepless nights about my children’s safety. I fear I am not the only person having sleepless nights about this development.”

And Cllr Lynn Hall added: “You can’t shoe horn development of this size when the infrastructure doesn’t support them."

James Seabury, speaking on behalf of the applicant the Banks Group, said the development will bring “long term” benefits to the borough. He said no objections have been received from statutory consultees.

Members heard that the second application for 19 homes on a site off Forest Lane within the village will be accessed through a space created by the demolition of a bungalow on the residential street.

Alistair Willis, from Duchy Homes, asked members to follow officer recommendation and approve the scheme.

Cllr Beaumont, vice chairman of Kirklevington and Castlelevington Parish Council, said it would be unfair to refuse permission for this application as it had been included in previous housing schemes for the village and was sited within the village envelope. The scheme was approved.

The third application was for 11 properties off Braeside in the village.

Pauline Thompson opposed the scheme as the housing would be too close to the village’s sewage treatment facilities. She said: “There are open channels to the sewage treatment works which will produce odours, flies and the inevitable vermin.”

Steve Barker, speaking on behalf of the applicant, reassured members that the sewage treatment work had been factored into the plans and council officers had raised no concerns and neither had Northumbrian Water.

The scheme was deferred by members for further details.

A fourth application for three homes to the rear of Springfield Road was approved by six votes to five.