PLANS to build homes next to a popular village pub have been rejected by county councillors.

Permission had been sought for 16 properties on land by the Bridgewater Arms, in Winston, Teesdale.

Planning officers said the outline application had the potential to bring economic benefits to the village, as well as new affordable housing.

But they also said this was not thought enough to outweigh harm to the environment and the area, including the pub itself, a former school dating from the 1800s.

As well as 27 letters of objection, a petition was also submitted to protect a tree at risk.

Meeting last Thursday, members of Durham County Council’s South and West Area Planning Committee agreed with the officers' recommendation to reject the proposals.

Durham County Councillor for Barnard Castle East George Richardson said: “As much as I like to see development in small hamlets and villages, this doesn’t tick any boxes. It’s there [in the officers’ report] the harm that it would do and the villagers themselves don’t want it.”