A PLANNING committee looks likely to allow a controversial development on land owned by a councillor.

Turney Wylde Construction, of Wallsend, North Tyneside, wants to knock down Hilltop Farm and the Farmhouse Inn, in Chester Road, Stanley, and build a block of flats.

The site is owned by Derwentside District Councillor Thomas Henderson.

Ron Caulfield, 60, of Beamish View, who organised a petition against the scheme, said: "We have been very disappointed. We don't think council officers have taken on board any of our complaints."

Residents have composed a letter to the Local Government Ombudsman, highlighting what they claim were inadequacies in how officials presented the application to councillors.

The original plans for the site featured a four-storey block of 32 flats and four town houses. The district council's development control committee postponed a decision on the application in August, after widespread opposition from residents in East Stanley.

But planners are recommending an amended version of the scheme for approval, when the committee meets next week.

The new application is for 35 flats in three storeys, standing 12.5m high, and no town houses. There will also be 53 car parking spaces.

"The hill is six metres above our homes, so these flats will be nearly 19 metres high and will dominate the landscape," said Mr Caulfield.

Concerns have also been raised over road safety.

Tim Wheeler, the council's development control manager, said: "There have been no recorded personal injury road traffic accidents at the existing public house access for at least the past three years."

He added that, while it would lead to an increase in traffic, the peak hour flow was estimated at no more than 40 vehicles per hour.

Durham County Council's archaeological office wants a survey to ensure the new building's deep foundations do not damage old ruins.

Council officers believe the site could once have been a prehistoric settlement and later a medieval hamlet and chapel.

Coun Henderson bought the farm buildings and pub, formerly called the Thatcher's Foot, about two years ago. He has declined to comment on the proposals.

No one was available for comment at Turney Wylde Construction yesterday.

The committee will vote on whether to grant planning permission at a meeting next Thursday at 2pm in Consett Civic Centre.