CONTROVERSIAL plans to create a housing estate on the outskirts of a picturesque village are being revised following a surge of public opposition.

Durham County Council said it has had more than1,000 responses to Story Homes’ bid to build 150 new houses on the edge of Lanchester.

The authority is unable to say exactly how many objections have been received, but North-West Durham MP Pat Glass, who lives in the village and is formally opposed to the plan, said she had been contacted by an ‘inordinately large number of worried constituents.’

She said her concerns for development on land close to Newbiggen Lane in the village included fears over flooding as well as the adverse impact on traffic, utilities and school places.

Mrs Glass said: “An inordinately large number of worried constituents that have approached me on this matter and on the detrimental impact that this development will have on the community of Lanchester.

“This is a speculative application from a developer who clearly has no understanding of the area and needs of the community and clearly has no interest in anything other than profit.”

Story Homes’ planning application for new homes in Lanchester was submitted to Durham Council Council earlier this year following a public exhibition at Lanchester Community Centre in March.

Residents then expressed fears the village is becoming overdeveloped and the existing infrastructure will not be able to cope with more housing.

The company has said the multi-million pound development will create up to 120 jobs within the local economy.

A Story Homes spokesman said: “We take on board the objections and comments raised by the public and other consultees through the consultation process and we are looking at these issues where appropriate in a planning context to assess whether these can be accommodated within revised proposals.

“We firmly believe that Lanchester does have a need for housing and our site is suitable for development.”

Durham County Council has said no deadline has been set for people to register their view on the scheme and no date has been set for the application to go before a planning committee.

Stuart Timmiss, head of planning and assets, Durham County Council, said: “The application has been received and we understand that additional information is to be submitted imminently.”