MORE than 150 residents have signed a petition against plans to build up to 370 houses on a greenfield site in Darlington.

Taylor Wimpey, Northumbrian Land and Persimmon Homes have submitted an application for outline planning permission to build up to 370 homes on land at Berrymead Farm to the north of Burtree Lane, in the Harrowgate Hill area of the town.

The application, which has been submitted to Darlington Borough Council, also features proposals for a new primary school and nursery.

The plans have attracted scores of objections from nearby residents, 169 of which have signed a petition against the development.

Concerns raised include issues around increased traffic on Burtree Lane and the already busy A167, property being devalued, the impact on the local landscape, possible flooding issues, the impact on nearby schools and medical practices, and the loss of the area’s rural aspect.

One objector said: “The current road network of Burtree Lane and the A167 is over congested at peak times, and the additional traffic the development and new residents will create will increase the problems.

“My property backs on to these fields and not only would we lose the rural aspect, our views would be severely limited and our property devalued.”

Another added: “The development will fundamentally change the aspect from the existing rural to urban.

“Many purchased their dwellings for a quieter lifestyle which will be changed by probable disturbance and antisocial behaviour.

“At the moment the graffiti stops at the White Horse, I suspect this will now extend up to Beaumont Hill.”

Whessoe Parish Council has also submitted a detailed objection to the development, echoing many of the concerns raised by residents.

They also believe that the development falls outside development limits for the Whessoe parish as given by the borough council’s 2011 Local Plan.

In a document outlining their objections, the parish council said: “The proposed application is contrary to planning guidance which resulted in the planning applications committee turning down applications for the development of land to the east of Middleton Lane and off High Stell, both at Middleton St George on the July 8.”

The parish council also raised concerns that the development would not provide any facilities for young people, and said: “The developers have not taken into consideration facilities for teenagers.

“The estate, if approved, will be remote from and some distance from facilities for young people.

“The nearest sports facilities in the evening and weekends for young people are located at Longfield Academy, in Longfield Road, and at the King’s Church, in Whessoe Road.”

They added: “The parish council supports residents’ objections to the development which has been manifested in the petition which contains 169 names and demonstrates clearly the degree of opposition to the development.”