A NEW 70-bedroom elderly care home in Darlington has been granted planning permission.

The privately-run home will be built on the old site of Skerne House, on the corner of Lakeside and Hammond Drive, Skerne Park.

The house had been a home for youngsters with mental difficulties, but was demolished 18 months ago.

In October 2005, planning permission was granted for 18 flats in three separate buildings, but the apartments were never developed.

Permission has now been granted for a two and three-storey home, with a total floor space of nearly 2,800 sq metres.

Darlington Borough Council's planning committee unanimously supported the scheme at its meeting on Wednesday - although councillors criticised its design.

After being shown an artist's impression, Councillor Gerald Lee said: "There are too many bland buildings - we will end up a bland town, which is not what any of us want."

The application states the design is a "traditional approach, using materials and details that are prevalent in the area".

Earlier, Councillor Peter Freitag, whose Park East ward includes the development, said: "I very much welcome the provision of elderly care.

"This was used for a children's home and this is a reflection on society I suppose - people are getting older."

There was one letter of objection. A resident wrote: "I feel a three-storey building will be totally out of character with the surrounding area. All other buildings are two-storey."

The home will only be three-storey in the south-west corner, because of the ground's slope.

The nearest house in Hammond Drive will be 20 metres away and the nearest in Lakeside nearly 40 metres away.

The home will be metres from the River Skerne - the Environment Agency had originally opposed the development because of flood risk.

However, plans have been amended to include raised floors.