A SIX-YEAR planning wrangle over greenbelt land that left Darlington Borough Council with a £100,000 High Court bill has ended.

A report received by the council from the Government's Planning Inspectorate has agreed that neither of two greenfield sites on the edge of town should be developed for housing.

Local people and developers became embroiled in a bitter dispute with the council over land in Whinfield, at Muscar House Farm, and another site at Elm Tree Farm.

The council wanted Muscar House Farm, which it owned, developing, rather than Elm Tree House, which was privately-owned.

Developers wanting to build on the latter site launched the costly 1998 High Court battle, which resulted in changes to the Darlington Local Plan and fresh consultations with residents over the future of the land.

The rethink also took into account new Government planning guidance directing councils to develop previously used brownfield sites, rather than greenfield areas.

Houses planned for the Muscar House Farm site would have helped the council to reach its structure plan target for the number of new houses to be built by 2006.

But now the council believes these homes can be built elsewhere, on brownfield sites, and both Elm Tree Farm and Muscar House Farm will not be developed.

Councillor David Lyonette, cabinet member for economic regeneration, said: "I am pleased that our decision has been supported by the Planning Inspectorate.

"Balancing the need to build new homes with the concerns of existing local residents, protecting the environment and Government planning rules, is never easy, but I believe our decision achieves that balance."

Councillor Tony Richmond, leader of the Conservative group on the Labour-run council, said he was shocked by the "audacity" of Coun Lyonette claiming the decision had been made by the authority.

He said: "All along, they were trying to develop the greenfield site, Muscar House, and they were forced to not develop it. Now here they are trying to claim that the Planning Inspectorate is agreeing with them."

But Coun Richmond said the conclusion of the issue was good news.

"It is very good news for the residents up there, and it is good news for the greenbelt about Darlington," he said