Derelict land littered with car batteries in a County Durham village is to be developed with bungalows.
The plan for 11 bungalows won unanimous approval from councillors at a Durham County Council planning committee meeting.
The bungalows - nine two-bedroom and two one-bedroom homes, most semi-detached - were proposed for undeveloped land between Rock Terrace and Edward Terrace in New Brancepeth.
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Ward member Councillor Dan Nicholls said: "This land has been a key concern for a number of residents for a number of years. It's been the subject of great discussion at the New Brancepeth Residents' Association.
"The council have served notices to tidy up this area on a number of occasions. There have been applications made before on this site.
"There are car batteries and things like that still on that site."
Senior planning officer Lisa Morina told a planning meeting: "In the past the site has been used as private gardens in association with some of the neighbouring terraces.
"There's been several buildings over the years, garages etc, erected across the site.
"More recently the visual amenity of the site has deteriorated and the council has served a number of notices relating to untidy land.
"There has been previous history on the site for residential development but these have not been brought forward."
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Neighbours objected to the plan in four letters, Durham County Council's planning committee heard.
These raised access problems, garage obstruction and a potential rise in traffic and parked cars, with suggested alternative uses like a children's play area.
One letter of support said it would take away an area of untidy land and bungalows would be welcome.
Planning officers recommended approval saying there was a need for bungalows and it was a sustainable location with good access to shops, education and jobs.
Cllr Angela Surtees said: "I really welcome this type of scheme. It's an area that's been left to wreck and ruin.
"A developer's identified a need on there to build. It's for the older cohort of people. It could also be for family homes as well.
"I think this is a fabulous scheme and I fully endorse it. I recommend that we approve it."
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Cllr Jonathan Elmer added: "We desperately need housing for older people. Bungalows are perfectly suited for that purpose and the location as well.
"These are excellent houses as well for the standard of insulation, the fact they've got solar panels on the roof."
He suggested coupling the panels with batteries: "That would very dramatically reduce the future energy bills of the people that move into these houses, which is a direction we should all be travelling in. It's not that much of an expensive add-on.
"I am slightly concerned about the loss of open space. Some of the residents have pointed out that fact."
The plan was approved with conditions including £19,130 to be paid by the developer towards open space in the area.
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