PLANS have been unveiled to demolish a former greyhound stadium and build dozens of executive homes on the site, prompting fears from nearby residents that the identity of their ancient village could be further threatened.

The developer Charles Church has applied to Durham County Council, seeking permission to create the development at the former Easington Greyhound Stadium.

But local Durham county councillor David Boyes has said that in the wake of several other housing developments being granted permission recently, there are concerns that the character of Easington Village could be changed forever.

Charles Church is applying to build 44 two-storey executive homes, comprising eight three-bedroom homes, 15 four-bedroom homes and 21 five-bedroom homes.

|It says the appearance will be that of a “village rural style”, with the site benefitting from its close proximity to the A19, accessible by way of the B1432.

Because of the executive nature of the development it is not proposed to provide any affordable housing on site, but a contribution is proposed to provide affordable housing elsewhere.

Cllr Boyes said: “All these housing schemes are changing the whole complexion and shape of Easington Village, which has been there since at least the tenth century.

“There is just application after application going in.

"These developers know there isn’t a County Durham plan, so that know the chances are they are going to get through unless we have a damned good reason not to pass it - and that’s what we have been told by county solicitors.”

He said, among the developments given permission in recent years were 900 homes at Littlethorpe, 80 homes at Fennell Grove and 90 houses on the old council office site.

Cllr Boyes said: “We are going to have in the region of 2,500 houses in the pipeline and the village has a population of only 2,500 people

“Technically this latest application is outside the village settlement boundaries, which is another reason to object to it.”

In its planning statement the company says it will meet a demand for executives homes, while bringing a derelict brownfield site back into use and providing housing without impacting on the historic environment.

Among the economic benefits it cites are an investment of £5.3, about £52,000 annually in council tax and £1m in local household spending.