A PARISH council has objected to plans to build dozens of new homes in a village which has been inundated with development in recent years.

An outline planning application has been submitted to build 160 new houses on land west of The Greenway in Middleton St George, near Darlington.

Gladman Developments, which is behind the application, say the development has the potential to offer homes for more than 350 people, and has also vowed to offer 20 per cent of the site for affordable housing.

But in a letter to Darlington Borough Council's planning department, Alan Macnab, clerk to Middleton St George Parish Council, said the "adverse impacts of granting permission would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits".

Mr Macnab highlighted the inadequacy of an access point and access route, the adverse impact on resident amenity of said access route, and the adverse impact on the character of the village as reasons why the application should be refused.

The letter states: "The proposed development would be completely out of character and overwhelming, both in size and number, and the natural and historic environment of the village and countryside landscape would be wrenched away from the local residents.

"Local residents, as well as visitors such as ramblers, cyclists and railway enthusiasts, cherish the area as a village community, and wish to keep it as a village with views and links to the surrounding countryside.

"A development of 160 dwellings with the only access being through a narrow point connected to a small cul de sac of village houses, would be completely inappropriate."

Earlier this year, residents were celebrating after a controversial plan to build 280 homes in Middleton St George was withdrawn.

The proposals also included plans for a 60-bed care home, a community park with new footpaths and outdoor equipment, and a new children’s play area.

But Conservative Councillor Doris Jones, who had previously warned that the village was turning into a town, said there were still applications approved or in the pipeline to build almost 2,000 homes in the area.

“Middleton St George has reached saturation point – it is no longer a small village, it is now a small town," she added.