NEIGHBOURS of what could be the largest golf course in Europe have welcomed the project.

Villagers in Hurworth viewed plans for the proposed £50m leisure development at the Rockliffe Hall estate, in Hurworth Place, on Monday.

The development would include an 18-hole championship course, a five-star hotel and a luxury residential development.

Hurworth parish councillor Alan Gibson said: "Everything seems OK.

"We were originally concerned about the housing and how much housing they were talking about.

"It will also bring that old building back into use and it is a fine building."

There are likely to be 18 self-contained apartments in the hotel, with an additional 26 houses on the estate.

Coun Gibson added: "All in all, it is very much what we were expecting.

"The original plan went in five years ago.

"They are altering the buildings but the generality is the same except for the houses."

The proposals, which are the idea of Middlesbrough football club chairman Steve Gibson, would include a 7,785-yard course.

The five-star hotel would house banqueting and conference halls, a luxury spa, Turkish baths and three restaurants.

Darlington Borough Councillor Martin Swainston was positive about the prestige and number of jobs it would bring to the area.

He said: "Middlesbrough Football Club has been a neighbour to Hurworth for a long time.

"This plan would put Hurworth on the map and it will show the borough of Darlington has something to offer.

"We have almost been a poor neighbour to Tyneside."

He said he wanted the plans to be properly discussed by both the parish council and borough council to ensure the success of the scheme.

Coun Swainston added: "We don't want to jump into this and the people who live in Hurworth left stuck in traffic."

Rockliffe Hall Developments will submit a detailed planning application by the end of the month.

Warwick Brindle, of Rockliffe Hall Developments, said everything was in place to procede.

He added: "In general the comments are very favourable indeed.

"Most of the people thought it was a very good design and development.

"There are no negative things - that was the same on the night."

The company's 1,023-page planning document includes traffic and environmental reports.