A NEW housing development on a flood plain has been recommended for approval despite objections from residents, two parish councils and members of a pressure group.

A planning application has been made to convert Croft House, in Tees View, Hurworth, into four apartments.

There would also be two detached houses and 13 terraced houses, two-and-a-half storeys high, built in the grounds. The terraces would be in a block of three and two blocks of five.

A similar application, which was first lodged in 2004, was rejected by Darlington Borough Council in January this year due to the risk of flooding.

The council now says that those issues have been resolved, and has recommended approval.

However, Councillor Peter Foster, chairman of Hurworth Parish Council, who worked as a firefighter in Darlington for a number of years, said he had experience of the area's flood risk

He said: "I have had to pump floodwater out of that garden twice.

"Where they want to build the townhouses is like a dish. Imagine the dish full of water, then imagine putting a big pebble in it. The water will come out of the top.

"That's what it could be like putting the houses there."

Hurworth borough councillor Martin Swainston, who has also objected, said: "There have been a lot of problems with flooding in that area, and the steps taken in the plans, such as the flood abatement pond, seem to be the bare minimum.

"There seems to be an awful lot of cons and not many pros."

Twelve letters of objection were sent to the borough council.

One resident wrote: "The proposed buildings will be in a flood- prone area, which seems not a very sensible place to build new houses. I remember the last occasion the Tees flooded, with my own house being surrounded by water to a depth of several feet."

The planning committee will hear from the Environment Agency before deciding.

There have also been concerns about the appearance of the development.

Croft Parish Council, on the Yorkshire side of the Tees, wrote: "Such a development in a rural environment amounts to a townscape."

The Campaign for Rural England said the plan represented an over-development and that three-storey houses would be out of keeping with the area.

The planning committee will meet in the Town Hall at 12.30pm tomorrow.