A FORMER care home could be demolished to make way for housing.

Prestigious Living Ltd has applied to Darlington Borough Council for permission to demolish Westfields House off Cockerton Green.

The company wants to build 38 apartments and five town houses, and provide 59 parking spaces.

The plan will be discussed by the authority's planning committee on Wednesday.

Three letters of objection have been received.

Protestors say the scheme is too large and out of keeping with the area.

They also claim the parking provision is inadequate and the development would add to the existing problems of cars parking along Staindrop Road and Swaledale Avenue.

A petition against the plan, signed by 43 residents, has been submitted to the town hall.

However, council officers are recommending that the scheme is approved.

In a report to the committee, they say there is growing pressure on the housing supply in Darlington.

Only 150 more properties are needed to meet targets for the next 11 years.

The report says: "Forty-three houses are consequently a significant part of the remaining requirement and, as such, the benefits the development can bring as a whole are of key importance in justifying any development."