MORE than 100 brewery jobs were tonight secure after a council approved plans for a housing development.

Last month, the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions announced that it did not wish to 'call in' the plans for the Castle Eden Brewery site, in County Durham.

The prompt decision, thought to have been influenced by Hartlepool MP Peter Mandelson, gave Easington District Council the final say on whether to approve the scheme.

At an extraordinary meeting today, councillors endorsed Persimmon Homes' proposal to build 70 houses and convert ten flats on the brewery site.

In an earlier meeting, last December, the council had already agreed to the plan in principal, subject to certain conditions.

But councillors judged it necessary to refer it to Stephen Byers' Government department as it deviated from the area's development plan and involved the demolition of the listed Copper House.

A letter from the Government office informed the council that there was insufficient conflict with national planning policies to justify its intervention, and that Copper House was not its concern.

Yesterday's decision means Castle Eden Brewery can go ahead with its proposed buy-out of Cameron's Brewery in Hartlepool from Wolverhampton and Dudley Breweries, in a deal worth up to £5m.

Under a new holding name, the Castle Eden and Cameron's Brewing Company, both firms' favoured brands, including Strongarm, Nimmos XXXX and Castle Eden Bitter, will be produced at Hartlepool's Lion Brewery.

The transfer will also save the jobs of more than 100 Cameron's staff and about 20 Castle Eden Brewery workers, who will move to Hartlepool.

But the council's decision provoked anger from residents who have long opposed the plans.

Speaking at yesterday's meeting, Colin Crozier, chairman of the Castle Eden Society, accused councillors of accepting the developer's biased report.

He said: "They have simply dismissed the external noise problems, which I find incredible.

"The planning department hasn't treated people to the information they deserve. "Many people were for having the conservation area enhanced.

"Instead we are getting additional houses."

Ian Forster, head of planning and building control services, said: "The report does accept that there is some concern, but it is felt that this can be satisfied."

Updated : 17:47, 05/03/2002