Homes plan for greenfield site denied

But it has allayed residents' fears that the site is on the verge of being developed.

People on the Bellburn Road Estate, Darlington, are angry that valuable communal space is in danger of being swallowed up by housing development.

Concerns have also been raised about the threat of a proposed bus route through any future development, which it is feared would make the estate's narrow roads hazardous.

Peter Waistell, of Ivywood Court, said: "I was involved in a successful petition a few years ago against building an access road from Bellburn Lane across the field to the Faverdale development.

"We did not want extra traffic coming through our estate when there are children playing outside. The roads are only a car width wide, as there are always cars parked along both sides, and could not support more traffic."

Richard Snowball, also of Ivywood Court, said: "We have got enough housing around us, so let us keep some open space. The field is used by children from the estate and is a safe place for them to play.

"There is also a pond at the bottom of the field that is a conservation area."

The six-acre plot of land, adjacent to Bellburn Lane and Honeypot Lane, was designated for the proposed Reid Street School when it was owned by Durham County Council. But, with the population of children stable and spaces available in local schools, those plans were abandoned.

A spokesman for Darlington Borough Council said that the land is one of many sites in the borough which have been assigned for future development in the authority's local plan. But he denied speculation that a planning application has already been submitted for the site.

The spokesman said that unless a planning application was made for the land, public objections could not be made against possible future uses for the site until the local plan is revised in 2006.

Local people have vowed to protest against any planning applications for the site