COMMUNITY leaders have welcomed the approval of a new housing estate as a boon to an East Durham town which has been designated a growth point.

Durham county councillors have given the green light o a residential comprising 52 homes on the former ITEC site on Burnhope Way, in Peterlee.

The same planning committee meeting at County Hall approved the building of 13 two-bedroomed bungalows on the site of the former Leisure Centre in the town’s Lowhill Road.

Approval of the larger housing development, tabled by North Blunts Ltd, comes in the wake of an announcement by the company of proposals for a 68,000 sq ft supermaket with underground car park on the site of the former North Blunts Primary School, across the road.

The 52 homes will include two, three and four-bedroomed houses, which are to be a mix small starter homes to larger family homes – and an allocation for 11 affordable homes.

Ward councillor Ralph Liddle, who welcomed the plans, said: “It is an open space with nothing at all.

If we get 52 houses inthe town we can increase the population,. There is a mix of housing with provision for 11 affordable housing . there is no council house building takiong place, so that will be help.

The main access will be from Neville Road while a pedestrian link will be provided from the development on to Burnhope Way.

The development will lead to the removal of 60 large trees, as well as some hedging..

Thomas Wolfe, whose property adjoins the development site, raised objections over the its proximity to his home and about flooding problems which he argued, would be exacerbated by removal of the trees.

Councillors agreed to impose conditions to address meet these concerns.

North Blunts director James Ridings said: "We are delighted to have got planning permission.

“Clearly it is an underlying growth point in the town.”

The second application approved was tabled by ISOS Housing. The development on the site of the former leisure centre will provide affordable rented accommodation for retired Durham Ages Mineworkers' Housing Association Tenants.