PLANS for eco-friendly homes rest in the hands of one woman.

Planning inspector Shelagh Bussey will rule on whether or not to allow the energy efficient estate, called Hall Gardens, to be built in Newton Aycliffe.

Her decision will be based on three days of arguments at a public inquiry into the most contentious planning application the town has ever seen.

Aire Design, the company behind the proposal, has put forward plans for a 113-estate with houses built of energy efficient materials, including low-pitched zinc roofs with solar panels.

Houses, which will be available on a leasehold basis and run by a management committee, will include large south facing windows to maximise the sunlight.

The plan has drawn strong opposition from residents on neighbouring sites in the Cobblers Hall area of town, who claim it will be out of character with the area.

On the closing day of the inquiry, architect Professor Douglas Clelland, said the new estate could be viewed as part of a family of individuals.

He said: "This is a younger, brighter member of the family.

"In that sense, it is still part of the family, but it has an individual freshness to it."

But Mike Bowden, speaking on behalf of the residents, said 'significant aspects' of the plan were not in keeping with the estate.

Concerns include the Home Zone concept, which means there are no footpaths, potential drainage problems and the unconventional design of the render-clad houses.

He said: "The designs of the properties do not visually integrate with existing developments."

He said parts of building visible from the outside are covered in brickwork or hidden by landscaping as evidence that it does not fit in with the rest of the estate.

Richard Merritt, barrister for Aire Design, said the application satisfied all the relevant planning criteria.

He said figures show the Home Zone concept helps to reduce accidents and that the houses, which should last for 120 years, conform to all sustainability tests.

He said: "The design is not very different from the vernacular in that we're talking about two-storey homes with pitched roofs and garden area."

A decision is expected next month.