VILLAGERS fear their GP surgery and school will be overwhelmed if a £160m development - including 300 new homes - goes ahead.

Citrus Durham first announced its plans to build industrial units, offices, a hotel, shops, a gym, a nursery and up to 300 homes on the outskirts of Bowburn, County Durham several weeks ago.

On Thursday (July 30), a hastily arranged public meeting heard concerns that 1,000 or more new residents would cause problems for Bowburn Medical Centre, as well as the village’s infant and nursery school and pharmacy.

There are also fears over increased traffic around the development, known as Integra61, which would be on fields off junction 61 of the A1(M).

Resident Margaret Stone said: “The recent housing developments in this area are already putting excess strain on our small local medical centre.

“We need to remember Bowburn has always been a village with a proud history. We feel that homes along the A177 will merely become a corridor to labyrinthine industrial estates.”

Martin Ridley, a trustee of Bowburn and Parkhill Partnership and chairman of the community centre, said: “The jobs are welcome. Our concern is the infrastructure is being left behind.

“We have 150 houses coming this year already without this. This is the biggest development in Bowburn for 50 years – since the pit closed. It’s got to be right for the village.”

Citrus says the scheme could create 4,500 new jobs and contribute £2.7bn to the regional economy in its first decade.

Development manager David Cullingford said: “We’re working closely with Durham County Council and are, or will be, consulting with all relevant authorities, including those responsible for local education and health provision.

“This is in order to establish how such needs will be met, and to ensure that the development is both viable and deliverable.

“We appreciate these form crucial parts of the planning process but it is important to state that we are currently at an early stage in that process, with many elements for us to still work through.”

Citrus hopes to submit a planning application for the development to Durham County Council in November and start work on site in early 2017.