Plans for almost 300 homes in South Stanley have been unanimously rejected by council bosses.

The application, for land south of Hustledown Road and Middles Road, had sought permission for up to 290 properties.

But the proposals were thrown out over concerns about traffic, congestion and road safety, as well as "harm to the character of the local landscape".

Steven Pilkington, senior planning officer at Durham County Council, said: “We feel this application represents a significant encroachment into the countryside.

“It would not respect natural features, it would have a severe impact on traffic flows and it would have an adverse impact on highway safety.”

According to a report prepared for the committee, the applicant behind the plans has launched an appeal with the government’s Planning Inspectorate after the council’s planning department passed the deadline for making a ruling on the scheme without making a final decision.

In light of this, councillors were asked how they would have determined the planning application, so a response could be provided for a public inquiry.

The impact on the council’s roads was one of the main issues highlighted by planning officers recommending the plans be turned down.

This included the council’s highways department rejecting a highways assessment carried out by the applicant.

Cllr Mark Davinson, who represents South Stanley, said: “Our community really needs an increased supply of housing, different housing, choices for people. But we cannot get people in because our road infrastructure is not quite there.”

As well as issues with the evidence submitted by the applicant on traffic issues, council officers also found fault with the level of detail included in flood reports.

Cllr John Clare: “We don’t have the full information to be able to make a reasonable decision.

“It would be irresponsible of this committee to approve this application until these gaps have been properly filled.”

The applicant, named as Gladman Developments Ltd in planning application forms, did not make any representations at the meeting.

A timetable issued by the Planning Inspectorate has given a deadline of October 1 for evidence to be submitted ahead of an inquiry due to be held on October 29.