NEIGHBOURS were celebrating yesterday when councillors voted unanimously against their planning officers.

The decision means that an art-deco house known as The Rookery, in Eaglescliffe, near Stockton, will be saved.

Nearly 150 protestors against the plan crammed into a Stockton Borough Council planning meeting at Stockton Central Library.

The application was to demolish The Rookery, which was built in the interwar period at South View, in Eaglescliffe, and build four houses.

Planning officers noted the 21 letters of objection, 60 protest calls by phone and the opposition of Egglescliffe Parish Council and the Council for the Protection of Rural England.

But they argued that there was no legislative planning reason to reject the application.

A report for the councillors explained that outline planning permission had already been granted, that the highways department and the application was in accordance with the authority's local plan. The planning officers also noted that an attempt by residents to have the building listed by English Heritage had failed.

But protestors quoted English Heritage inspectors saying that the building had a striking appearance and that it was an important example of an international architectural style.

Speaking at the meeting resident Norman Douglas also quoted a council inspector's report from 1991 which argued against allowing the building to be demolished.

Mr Douglas said: "Every builder and architect is watching for this result and, if approved, every building not listed in Eaglescliffe is at risk. We are begging you to reject this plan."

In the end the councillors unanimously turned down the application on the grounds that The Rookery was worth preserving and the new buildings would be inappropriate in what is a conservation area. The applicants have the right to appeal to the Government against the decision.