A PIG farm which at times smells so bad children at the neighbouring school cannot play outside looks set to be pulled down and replaced with houses.

Durham County Council’s area planning committee (south and west) yesterday approved an outline application for 12 houses on the site of the pig farm at Green View Lodge in Hamsterley.

Owner Matthew Betney told members that people do not want a pig farm in the village centre any more so he and wife Tracey want to make money off the site to reinvest so their two sons can continue farming.

Senior planning officer Tim Burnham recommended refusal of the scheme, as the houses would not only replace rundown farm buildings but also be built on an undeveloped field taking the development outside the village boundary and encroaching on open countryside.

He felt that while 12 new dwellings would benefit the area in terms of housing supply, support for local services and jobs during construction and removal of the farm would have environmental benefits, they were outweighed by the negative impact on the countryside.

He suggested tree preservation orders would protect trees on the land but Mr Betney’s agent said they had not been served and could not be used to block plans.

Members heard the prospect of losing the pig farm, with its offensive smells and daily slurry runs, was universally welcomed by villagers.

Councillor Heather Smith said in summer the smell can get so bad pupils at Hamsterley Primary School are kept inside and it affects Hamsterley and District WMC next door. She said major investment would be needed to maintain it as a farm.

She said: “I believe the vast majority of residents also support this. Without new development villages wither, without new houses local young people have to move away, local facilities especially the school have an uncertain future.

“I believe development is needed, it is in the right place, the right number of houses and the design is sympathetic.”

She said obstacles such as the loss of village green to create the access road, which would mean the loss of a patch of hardstanding near the social club, could be overcome.

Councillor George Richardson said the application presented a ‘chance to get the village improves and take away the smell’.

Members unanimously approved the proposal.