A BUILDING company has tabled an offer to buy council land at a "very significantly improved price" to one councillors have already agreed with a rival firm.

Councillors at Derwentside District Council approved plans to sell land at Ewehurst Road, in Dipton, last month to developer Berrickbridge, which wants to build 66 homes on the site.

Four residents in the area objected to the plan as they want to ensure a children's play area is built, and fear access to their front drives would be restricted by the development.

But, after debating the matter, councillors agreed to the plan - only for a last-minute bid to be tabled by a second unnamed developer before a contract could be drawn up.

Since then, Berrickbridge has submitted an improved offer, which is also being considered by the council.

Figures on how much money is being offered are not being made available by the council, but it is thought to run into hundreds of thousands of pounds. Council properties were demolished on the site 18 months ago.

Chairman of Derwentside development control committee Eric Turner said the council would be failing the taxpayers if they did not consider the new bid.