COUNCILLORS have backed plans to build new homes in a picturesque hamlet.
Durham County Council’s central and east area planning committee today (Tuesday, April 12) voted to grant outline planning permission for 26 new homes on land north of Little Thorpe, near Easington Village.
Some existing residents and Easington Village Parish Council objected to the scheme, citing poor visibility from the site onto the highway, obstruction of rights of way and over-development.
The village has grown from a farmstead to around 20 dwellings and various residential schemes have been approved over recent years.
Outline permission exists to build 900 homes nearby.
However, in a report to the committee, senior planning officer Chris Baxter said the site was brownfield land and part of the settlement of Little Thorpe, having previously been occupied by agricultural buildings, and recommended permission be granted.
The applicant, George Simpson, said the proposal was "very low density" and would comprise a mix of four and five-bedroom “high-quality family homes”.
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