PLANS have been unveiled for a major new housing development in a north Durham village.

Banks Property is proposing a new housing scheme comprising 200 properties on a 7.4 hectare site in Pelton Lane, Pelton, near Chester-le-Street.

The family-owned firm says it is consulting with the residents and has already held a meeting with the with Newfield & Pelton Lane Residents Association.

Further meetings are being scheduled with the parish council and other community representatives.

A leaflet will be delivered to each household in the area from the company outlining the plans, while public drop-in sessions about the plans will be held at the Pelton Community Centre, on dates yet to be arranged, later this month.

Lewis Stokes, community relations manager at the Durham-based developer, said: “There is a clear and increasingly pressing need across the region to increase the available supply of quality homes.

“We firmly believe that young families should have the opportunity to live in the places where they grew up or where they wish to be.

“Our Pelton Lane scheme would be located on a site that has previously been identified as suitable for this type of development.

“And it is in an area where we are certain there will be strong demand for the type of high quality housing that would be built on this site.”

A planning application for the development is expected to be submitted to Durham County Council within the next couple of months.

For further information visit www.banksgroup.co.uk/peltonlane.