DEVELOPERS refused permission for a controversial housing development will consider lodging an appeal.

Durham City Council's development control committee turned down proposals by Bryant Homes and Wimpey Homes to build 193 detached and semi-detached houses at West Rainton.

Councillors decided that the site was beyond the village boundary and the development would breach local, county and national planning policies.

The decision delighted the West Rainton Housing Action Group which waged a vigorous campaign against the scheme.

Wimpey's sales and marketing director Kevin Thubron said: "It is certainly something we will consider.

"We could appeal, we could abide by the decision and walk away, or we could look at a different form of development that might be more acceptable and re-apply.

"But until we study the reasons why the local authority refused planning permission we can't say what the next stage will be."

The action group, which feared the scheme could lead to further developments that would double the size of the village, is anticipating an appeal.

Chairman Eric Coates said villagers had won a battle but not the war and were preparing to argue their case before a planning inspector. The group now hopes that the fields earmarked for development will be designated green belt land to ward off other proposals.

A smaller development on the site won approval on appeal in 1991. It was never built, but since then planning policies have changed to favour brownfield sites over greenfield land.

The inspector recommended that there should be a grade separated junction with the busy A690, but the latest proposal featured a traffic light junction, which residents felt would be more dangerous.

Councillors were told the city already had sufficient land identified to meet the need for new housing.