SUPERMARKET giant Tesco has put a derelict garage site up for sale after councillors refused it permission three times to build a store.

Local councillors now hope the land will be sold quickly so it can finally be redeveloped.

The former Shell garage in North Road, Darlington, which closed more than three years ago, has been placed on the market.

Tesco had wanted to build an Express store on the site in the Harrowgate Hill area of town.

It first submitted plans to Darlington Borough Council in July 2006. Those plans were refused in November.

However, it bought the site in January 2007, before making a fresh application, which was also refused when councillors overturned planning advice.

Last December, councillors rejected plans a third time. The following month, Tesco said it would put the site up for sale.

Residents and ward councillors became concerned however that Tesco may intend to hold onto the site.

Despite it falling into disrepair following Shell's decision to close the garage, hundreds of local people objected to Tesco's plans because of threats of competition to local shops and traffic problems.

Tesco has now instructed estate agents Sanderson Weatherall to advertise the site for sale.

Richard Webster, from the agent's Leeds offices, confirmed for sale boards had been erected and the site would be advertised in the usual way.

Mark Burton, Labour councillor for the Harrowgate Hill ward, said: "It could be a cross spectrum of developers who are interested in the site. Fingers crossed that it gets sold quickly.

"It would be good to see housing. It will depend how much Tesco are willing to sell the land for and how much it would cost to decontaminate the land."

His Conservative counterpart Gill Cartwright said: "We hope it can be sold quickly. It has been derelict for quite some time now.

"It would be nice to see something residential on there. A community centre would be ideal but I don't think the money is there for that."

The site has been regularly vandalised since it was closed, but new wire fencing was erected earlier this year, since when anti-social behaviour has been reduced.

Coun Cartwright added: "It is very much an eyesore still."