PLANS to build 780 new homes and a 220-home retirement village have been submitted for Wynyard.

The £100m plan would be the next stage of the development of the area, north of Stockton, where permission to build a controversial new £300m hospital has already been granted.

Eventually the idea is to build 1,580 new homes, a primary school for 370 pupils and a village hall, shop and pub to built at Wynyard Park.

The current application to build the 1,000 properties on land north of Lion Court at Wynyard Park was submitted to Stockton Council on Wednesday.

Likely concerns over increases in traffic on the busy A689 road have been addressed by applicants, Wynyard Park Ltd.

Its submission points out the Government’s new National Planning Policy Framework states that only severe impact on traffic should prevent approval.

It’s expected there will be improvements made to the A689 and A19.

It also says revised plans would generate less traffic than previous plans for the area.

Work could start by the middle of next year if permission is granted and Stockton Council could receive £1.5m extra council tax revenue a year from new residents.

Chris Musgrave, Chief Executive of Wynyard Park Ltd, said the new homes would help sustain the nearby business park where 500 people were employed.

He said: “If approved, this development will not only bring a substantial boost to the local economy, but many hundreds of jobs will be created as a result in these current economically challenging times.

“Furthermore, this development will help fund the vital infrastructure required in terms of roads and services which is essential for us to continue development of the rapidly expanding business park and ensure we continue to attract major companies to the region.”

He predicted the development would boost the local economy by generating an additional estimated spend of around £2.9m within the local area every year.

Plans for the new hospital on the site, which would lead to the closure of the hospitals in Hartlepool and Stockton, are continuing despite concerted opposition in Hartlepool where the full council has declared its objection. North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust are in the process of purchasing the land.