A DEVELOPER has won planning permission to build 71 homes on unused land in the centre of an east Durham village.

George Wimpey North-East plans to build three, four and five-bedroomed detached two-storey houses and three-storey terrace houses at Cinnamon Drive, Trimdon Station, after winning permission from Easington District Council's development control and regulatory panel.

The panel heard that the parish council had raised concerns about the number of houses planned and their impact on the sewerage, roads and school.

Residents also commented, some saying the scheme would improve the look of the area, help reduce vandalism and help businesses in the village.

But one resident objected, saying there were no retirement bungalows in the development and that nearby bungalows would lose their privacy as they would be overlooked by the houses.

There were also concerns about loss of space and traffic congestion, although Durham County Council highways officials were said to be happy with the proposals and did not foresee any problems being caused by traffic from the development.

Panel members were told the council could not control the supply of types of housing and that the development conformed with the council's standards protecting privacy and amenity.

Councillors also heard that the developer would provide money towards the cost of providing open space near the development.

Permission was granted, subject to satisfactory flood risk, contaminated land and archaeological assessments being carried out on the site.

Previous proposals for development on the site won approval, including 14 retirement bungalows and eight houses on part of the site, but none came to fruition.