COUNCILLORS have deferred a decision over controversial plans to build new houses on a grassed area in a housing estate - to allow talks with the developer in a bid to resolve issues over access to neighbouring allotments.

Gleeson Homes wants to build 24 homes, a mix of two, three and four-bedroom properties, on a 1.62-acre plot south of Hawthorn Close, in Kimblesworth, off the A167 near Chester-le-Street.

The housebuilder says the site, which it has agreed to buy from Durham County Council, is in a residential area close to services and facilities and its proposals accord with planning policies.

But villagers living on nearby Sycamore Road, which would be the route for traffic into the new development, say they are concerned about road safety, traffic, noise and the loss of open space.

And allotment holders say the development would block access to their plots on land to the west of the site.

They are in the process of applying to register their easement (legal right of way) – a freedom, they argue, has lasted for more than 50 years.

The council’s area planning committee meeting was told today (Thursday, November 26) that 17 residents had written letters of objection, along with the Kimblesworth and Plawsworth Parish Council.

Recommending approval for the development, principal planning officer Fiona Clarke said the site was considered to be sustainable and the design, layout and character of the plans were “generally acceptable”.

She added that, although more difficult, access to the allotments could be reached from the south.

Ms Clarke said planning officers had spoken to Gleeson Homes to try to accommodate access to allotments, but the developer had declined to budge.

She said, if the allotment holders were successful in their application to the Land Registry for easement, the proposals could be amended by moving fencelines, without affecting the number of houses on the site.

Cllr Simon Wilson said: “I am not very happy that Gleeson Homes did no pre-consultation with people.

“You say it will be a tortuous route for people to get to the allotments from the south, so why - if it is so easy just to move access over a couple of gardens, if an easement is granted - can that not be built in beforehand?”

Gleeson Homes said the development would provide low cost housing for local people and in particular first-time buyers.