PLANS to build the country's first "eco park" at Ingleby Barwick have been withdrawn.

The £8m development, planned for a large area of green land in Blair Avenue, included community facilities previously approved by Stockton Council.

However, residents had major concerns over the proposed second phase of the development, including mooted two and three-storey office blocks, a gym, a horticultural nursery and a pub.

All the buildings in the eco park were to be constructed from straw and would be served by their own wind turbine.

Following public outcry, Ian Howlett and Paul Nelson, of Nunthorpe Nurseries, have decided to withdraw the planning application and go back to the drawing board..

Coun Lee Narroway, leader of the Ingleby Barwick Independent Society (IBIS), said: "It's fantastic news to see that Nunthorpe Nurseries have seen sense and decided to withdraw the proposed plans for the eco park.

"It goes to prove what people power can do. Congratulations must go to the local residents who went out of their way to speak up for themselves and Ingleby Barwick. We look forward to meeting the developer soon to discuss the future of the site."

A spokeswoman for Nunthorpe Nurseries told the D&S Times: "We have been extremely pleased by the positive and constructive feedback and have taken a number of suggestions on board. We are working with architects to restructure our plan before re-submitting it, as is standard procedure in these cases. We will release full details to the residents of Ingleby Barwick in the near future, and intend to hold an extensive consultation."