PROPOSALS for a major housing estate near Chester-le-Street have been given the green light by planners.

Last year, developer Taylor Wimpey lodged an application for a parcel of land to the west of Valley Road, Pelton Fell.

This included transforming the site into a 165-home estate with a mix of terraced, semi-detached and detached homes.

Durham County Council’s area planning committee have now approved the plans, despite concerns from neighbours.

During consultation, 10 objection letters were submitted citing the loss of green space, impact on school places / health services and highway safety.

After discussions with planning officers, developers made several changes to the plans.

To reduce the impact on the habitats of great crested newts, they agreed to provide two large ponds.

Under UK law, fines for disturbing the creatures can reach up to £5,000 per newt, as well as imprisonment or seizure of equipment.

On traffic safety, a protected right turn, pedestrian crossing islands and a new bus stop will be provided on Bluehouse Bank to the north.

And a new signalised junction is expected to be put in place in Chester-le-Street town centre to reduce queuing on Picktree Lane.

Coun Alan Bell, welcoming the scheme at Durham County Hall, said: “There’s congestion there at peak times and it’s much needed.”

According to planning documents, police also asked for funds to tackle an “established problem” with off-road motorcycles using the nearby Congburn Wood.

However planning officers said Taylor Wimpey was not expected to provide funds for widespread issues under existing policies, and only those directly related to the development.

While planners admitted the new homes could impact on the character and appearance of the countryside, they argued the benefits outweighed any potential impacts.

This includes an increase in housing land supply, creating jobs and boosting the local economy.

In response to a question from Coun Mark Wilkes, planners also confirmed the new homes were not expected to impact on doctors surgeries or school places.

Following discussion, the planning committee threw their support behind the plans with a unanimous vote.

As part of a section 106 legal agreement, the developer is also expected to pay a six-figure sum to the council to reduce the impact of the homes.

This includes: providing 15 per cent affordable housing on site, £168,251 towards open space and sporting provision in the Chester-le-Street area, £35,000 towards the Waldridge Fell Site of Special Scientific Interest and £142,219 to create a new cycle route and improved pedestrian links through Congburn Dene to Waldridge Lane