CONTROVERSIAL proposals to flatten thousands of Tyneside homes in a regeneration scheme could be scaled down.

Newcastle City Council ran into fierce opposition when it unveiled proposals to demolish 6,000 homes in the east and west ends.

The move is part of the council's Going for Growth regeneration project which would see 20,000 new homes built over 20 years.

Now it has told residents it will look again at the figure.

Cabinet member Kevan Jones said: "We will sit down and see where we can get agreement with communities on demolition and amend the master plan. This isn't a climb down. We said from the start we would listen to what people had to say and that is what we are doing."