A housing development in a flood plain will be built on two-metre stilts and include a pond to reduce potential flooding.
A planning application has been passed to convert Croft House, in Tees View, Hurworth, into four apartments.
The project includes two detached homes and 13 terrace cottages. A similar application was refused earlier this year because of the risk of flooding.
Darlington Borough Council has said those issues have been resolved.
Planning approval was given by the planning committee subject to a number of conditions, including many proposed by the Environment Agency.
Residents and councillors had raised major concerns about the development.
One resident said at Wednesday's meeting: "There is very little that residents in Hurworth Place can do to prevent their houses from being flooded.
"They are very old and have cellars. Water comes through the cellars and into our houses."
He said Hurworth Place had remained unaltered for a century.
Ward councillor Martin Swainston was also concerned about flooding. He said: "This is a no-brainer. It is disappointing that the developers have come back time and time again."
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