A COUNCIL has received a formal planning application to build a block of apartments in Eaglescliffe.

Earlier this year, 1,400 local people signed a petition to save the Orchard Filling Station, on Durham Road, after hearing rumours that an undisclosed developer had put in an offer of about £600,000 to replace it with 31 luxury apartments.

The licensee of the garage at the time, Andy Adamson, threatened to lie down in front of bulldozers to prevent its demolition, and said he was confident he would be joined by many volunteers who also opposed the plans.

However, since then Mr Adamson has left the station and Stockton Borough Council has received a formal planning application from Carlton Developments North Ltd.

The company has applied for planning permission to build the 31 apartments in a three-storey building, with one section rising to four storeys, associated car parking and external amenity space.

The plans are expected to be discussed by members of the council planning committee in the next few weeks.

Residents were worried that they would lose their only local filling station and were also concerned about the wave of planning applications for apartments in the area.

Helen Rennison, clerk to Egglescliffe Parish Council, said: "The council's initial thoughts are that 31 flats do seem to be far too intensive.

"The parish council has discussed the application, but only briefly. We haven't had time to discuss it in depth.

"However, I am aware people were worried about losing the filling station and I know there was an overwhelming support for the petition.

"There does seem to be a lot of planning applications for apartments in the area."

Earlier this year, developers George Wimpey North-East withdrew an application to build 24 flats in South View, Eaglescliffe.

The plans had led to a wave of protest and Stockton council received 754 objections and a 62-name petition.

Concern is growing that housing developers are targeting every available plot of land for upmarket apartments as the desirability of Yarm and Egglescliffe continues to grow.