By james art Plans have been lodged for 32 affordable and eight self-build homes for a site in Delves Lane, Consett.
The candidate, Ray Mansell, said there was a “clear and dire need” for more affordable housing in County Durham.
However, a planning committee rejected the proposal in April after significant opposition from residents.
Mr Mansell was told a significant development of 288 homes had already been approved on land near Greenways Court Care Home and vital open space would be lost.
Durham County Council received 112 objections from residents who warned the site would become overdeveloped and local services would not cope with the excess traffic.
In a statement submitted as part of the application, Mr Mansell said: “Durham is one of the most deprived councils in England in terms of a huge deficit of affordable housing and that the only registration method that appears to be being used is new affordable housing against the background of market housing schemes.’
However, Durham County Council’s planning body also urged committee members to reject the application.
Officers said the development failed to “demonstrate the need for the level of affordable housing proposed on this site” and “will not make the financial contributions required to mitigate the development’s impact on local education and health facilities”.
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The council’s proposal and decision will now be reviewed by a state planning inspector.
An appeal on behalf of Mr Mansell said: “There is a clear and dire need for more affordable housing across County Durham. This need is not evenly distributed across the area and is particularly acute in the East Durham and North West Durham monitoring areas.
“Over the past decade (2013-2023), housing affordability has remained largely stagnant in County Durham. The Delves Lane area is slightly less affordable than the county average.
“In the last five years, rents have increased by nearly 11 percent. It shows that, although not as stark as elsewhere, little progress has been made in making housing more affordable across the country.”