PLANS for 55 houses at a village near Darlington have received initial approval, despite local opposition.
At a meeting of the borough council's planning committee, members gave their approval to an outline plan to develop 2.34 hectares of the site at Merrybent for housing.
The remaining 16 hectares of the site will be handed over by the Co-op, which owns the milk depot and former nursery, to create a community forest. The plan also includes the creation of a pond and village green.
In May, 65 residents attended a meeting of Low Coniscliffe and Merrybent Parish Council to discuss the Co-op's original proposal to build 32 houses on the site.
Planning officer Jeremy Smith said that Government guidelines on the density of houses on brownfield sites would mean about 55 houses would have to be built. As the proposal represents a departure from the borough council's local plan, it will be forwarded it to the Deputy Prime Minister's office for a final decision.
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