A PROPOSED housing scheme that attracted 540 letters of objection has been amended and given the go-ahead.

Protestors have vowed to continue their fight against a controversial housing development at Wheatlands Farm Cottages, Redcar Road, Redcar, despite councillors' approval of the scheme.

More than 150 people turned out to protest against Cleveland Housing Aid Trust's initial bid for 22 flats at Wheatlands Farm, Redcar, at a meeting in October.

They said the flats would not blend in with the surrounding area.

This original application was amended twice by the trust before it was finally thrown out by councillors from Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's planning committee in January.

The trust has appealed against this decision and it is being looked at by the planning inspectorate. But it also submitted a fresh application, to build 16 two-storey flats in four units.

This was granted planning permission by councillors at their meeting on Wednesday but residents said they may go to judicial review.

Planning committee chairman Peter Spencer, who gave the casting vote after councillors voted six in favour, and six against, said: "While I appreciate residents' concerns, I felt that the applicant had gone a long way towards meeting what the committee wanted."

Councillor Norah Cooney said: "None of us are against a development there but not a development like this."