PLANS to build new 350 homes in the shadow of Durham Tees Valley Airport – a move campaigners said would sound “the death knell” for the facility –have been waved through by Government, it emerged tonight.

No public inquiry will be held into the scheme after the Department for Communities and Local Government said it would prefer Darlington Borough Council to have final say.

Airport owner Peel Holdings says the plan will bankroll their investment in the future of the loss-making airport, securing its future for the next five years and potentially the next ten – but opponents have said the homes were so close to the runway it would kill any future expansion there.

The development, on the north side of the airport, includes a health centre, dentist and nursery, the homes, financial and professional services, restaurants and other leisure services and Peel has promised that 100 per cent of the revenues generated from the housing development will be reinvested in the airport business.

Darlington Council has already approved the scheme, but several people asked for government involvement in the decision.

Chris Foote-Wood, who was the Liberal Democrat candidate for Tees Valley last month, one of those who asked for the decision to be called in, said: “As soon as Darlington council granted planning permission in March this year, I wrote to the secretary of state asking him to use his powers to revoke the plan that it was damaging to the wider public interest.

“Darlington council must now change its mind and stop this stupid plan which would prevent future expansion of our airport.

“All four candidates in the recent election for Tees Valley mayor pledged to save the airport, and stopping this damaging housing development would clear the way for an expansion plan.”

Doris Jones, Darlington borough councillor for nearby Middleton St George, who earlier this year branded the plan the death knell for the airport as she said the homes were “practically on the runway”, said: “I just don’t think that the public have been properly consulted on this.

“I think the local residents, who are going to bear the brunt of this development, need to have their say.

She said she hadn’t heard anything further about Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen’s plan to buy the airport, but said: “I have no idea how he is going to do it but I would like to think he was successful. I would back him all the way.”

The Northern Echo was unable to reach Mr Houchen for comment today.