BANKS DEVELOPMENTS has submitted an outline planning proposal for a large development of 100 houses on the outskirts of Hurworth despite major opposition from the current residents (some 85 per cent of residents who responded to a recent questionnaire circulated to the entire village were not in favour of the development).

It seems from the company’s comments that it thinks it is doing the village a favour although I have yet to see any benefit to the village at all (D&S, Aug 19).

The previous Darlington Borough Council Development Plan showed no plans for extra housing in the village.

However, now that there is no development plan in place, the developers step in to exploit the situation and could end up ruining our village.

There seem to me to be more than enough properties for sale within the Darlington borough – some 1,500 houses.

This coupled with existing new building in areas like Middleton St George, West Park and other areas where outline planning has been granted but developments are yet to start should produce more than enough houses to meet demand for the foreseeable future.

I would urge Darlington Borough Council to delay granting any further large scale planning applications until the new Darlington Borough Council Development Plan is in place.

Hurworth would also by then have its own Parish Plan (which is currently being prepared) and could work with the council to agree a strategy of building within the village boundary and of a size suitable for the village.

We are not against development, just the sheer size of this proposal. Once outline planning permission has been granted it cannot be withdrawn.

This would ensure that houses are built where Darlington borough needs them and not just where developers can exploit a loophole to make a profit at the expense of our beautiful rural communities.

We do not want our village turned into a large scale housing estate.

Nigel Goddard, Hurworth