A LEADER of a council has condemned what he described as a “secret” deal between developers and the Government over the building of a Free School and 1,300 homes.

Bob Cook, Labour leader of Stockton Borough Council, made his comments after a public inquiry over proposals to build a new school at Ingleby Barwick, near Stockton.

He said the authority and public were not told that the property developers wanted to build a further 950 homes as well as the initial 350 sought.

Coun Cook added that it hadn’t previously been made public that the Government would also receive a financial contribution from the developers for the extra 950 homes.

The public inquiry is being held in Stockton following Stockton council’s rejection of the initial plan for a new school off Low Lane, Ingleby Barwick along with 350 homes.

Developers Satnam and Tiviot Way Investments had offered to provide land for the school for free and create infrastructure if they were allowed to build the 350 homes.

That offer was rejected because the housing development was on protected green field land.

However the developers, with the backing of campaigners for the school, have appealed the decision and it has now emerged there could be an application to build a further 950 homes.

Coun Cook said: “For the first time it has become clear that a deal has been done between the Government and the developer.

“The people of Ingleby Barwick need to know that the deal on the table is a school and 1,300 homes – that shouldn't be a secret."

Tiviot Homes couldn’t be contacted for comment but Colin Griffiths, managing director at co-developers Satnam, argued that the council leader should only be concentrating on the matter at hand and not possible future developments.

He said: “I think this is very wrong that anybody in an elected position should want to mislead the public by saying this application for 350 homes is actually something else.”

James Wharton, Conservative MP for Stockton South, confirmed the Government has said it would want further financial contributions if any more homes were built. However he said the council itself had identified the land for more housing development and coun Cook was trying “to shift the blame” for that. “There is no secret deal,” he said.

The public inquiry has been adjourned until June 2.