VILLAGERS are fighting plans to build houses on a field in a picturesque conservation area, near a Grade II-listed parish church.

Residents of Shadforth, a small village of 175 houses east of Durham City, are calling on Durham County Council to reject Haswell Moor Developments’ scheme to build four detached and six semi-detached houses on land between Church Villas and Rectory View, which lies in the Shadforth Conservation Area and opposite St Cuthbert’s Church.

They say the development would sacrifice open space, damage the character of the village and is poorly designed.

They also have concerns over road safety, drainage, flooding, lighting, the proposed car ports, parking for the church and the limited local services – the village has no shop, post office, GP practice, or even a telephone box.

Chris Turner said: “Shadforth is a beautiful village, one of the few green villages east of Durham. The open fields are essential if the village is to keep its character.

“More and more residents are displaying a poster with a simple message for our councillors: no houses on green fields. There is just no justification.”

Residents association chairman Ken Hughes said: “We’ve a great community spirit.

“In the last 15 years the number of houses in the village has increased by 35 per cent.

“We have accepted and adjusted to change, but what is now proposed will destroy part of our conservation area and the scale is out of character with the historic part of the village.”

Local county councillor Stephen Guy is backing the villagers’ campaign.

Haswell is seeking outline planning permission, with all matters reserved except landscaping.

In its supporting statement submitted to the council, it says the scheme would have no adverse impact on the conservation area and the new homes would sit between two “flanking” terraces.

Addressing the villagers’ objections, it says: “New development is not an alien concept – it is a part of the natural evolution of settlements. Organic growth of this nature is what happens to our towns and villages.

“It is why many of those who now object are able to live in Shadforth... future generations should not be denied that same opportunity.”

The application is due to go before the council’s area planning committee on Tuesday, March 10.

The same committee overwhelmingly rejected an earlier version of the scheme last July.

More information on the application can be found online at durham.gov.uk/planning, using the reference DM/14/03871/OUT.