A PROJECT to build 29 houses on a former school site is just what a village needs, councillors heard today.

Gleeson Homes and Regeneration’s plans for the former Ushaw Moor County Infants School site, on Temperance Terrace, in Ushaw Moor, were unanimously approved by members of Durham County Council’s central and east planning committee, meeting at The Glebe Centre, in Murton.

Earlier, Councillor John Wilkinson, whose ward includes Ushaw Moor, said: "It gives me great pleasure to support this application.

"I’m pleased to see a site of little real ecological value become new houses – mainly with two or three bedrooms, aimed at owner occupiers with small or modest incomes.

"This is just what Ushaw Moor needs. It will contribute to the continuing regeneration."

Coun Wilkinson, who began his teaching career at the now-demolished school, said the site was on a bus route, near to shops and schools, the house designs would complement the local area and praised Gleeson for only selling to owner occupiers.

The homes will have two, three or four bedrooms. There will be a mix of detached, semi-detached and terraced properties. The estate will be accessed from the West, off Cockhouse Lane.

Brandon and Byshottles Parish Council backed the project.

Edmund Alder, from Gleeson, told councillors his firm specialised in regeneration former colliery areas.

"It’s not about building houses and disappearing. It’s about creating sustainable communities and giving people a sense of ownership and pride in where they live," he said.

A Victorian wall from the old school would be retained, Mr Alder added.

There would be just 17m between some facing homes; which prompted Coun John Moran to question why the recommended minimum of 21m was being missed.

Planning official James Taylor said it was common to have as little as 10m between homes in Ushaw Moor, so the new estate would bring a net improvement.

As part of the scheme, Gleeson would donate £29,000 to the provision of play facilities and £8,551 towards public art in the area.

Mr Alder said the firm was looking forward to developing the site in the ‘near future’.