RESIDENTS are to lose their gardens as a controversial building project is recommended for approval.

Housing developer Persimmon Homes looks likely to have its revised plans for 43 houses and 19 flats on land along Romanby Road, near Northallerton, granted by councillors next week.

But the approval will mean residents in Bridge Terrace will lose their gardens, which are owned by the occupier of the site, Allerton Engineering Limited.

The engineering and bridge building company is selling the whole site to enable it to relocate and expand at Darlington Road Industrial Estate - a move that has fuelled anger among the local residents.

Householder Barrie Hall said people were objecting to the loss of their private amenity of the gardens and the fact that the company had failed to negotiate with the residents and ask them what they wanted to see from the development of the area.

He said: "The residents of Bridge Terrace are not, and never have been, against the factory being replaced with housing."

Other letters of objection to Hambleton District Council have expressed concerns about parking and a loss of quality of life.

Persimmon Homes' application has been amended to substitute the loss of the gardens with an area of landscaped open space and a play area for toddlers.

It also includes 15 car parking spaces for residents of Bridge Terrace - seven more than in the original application.

Planning officer Lydia Spiller said the revised plans had made significant improvements to the layout of the proposed development to respect the amenities of existing properties.

Lawrie Ellis, chairman of Allerton Engineering, said that in reference to the Bridge Terrace gardens, residents had been fully aware that access to the land was granted purely on goodwill terms.

He said: "The letting of this land carries no security of tenure and has been rented on a peppercorn basis due to the likelihood of the land being required for expansion or development."

The council's developments control committee will meet on Thursday to discuss the application.