THE Skerne Park estate, in Darlington, is to receive a £100,000 cash windfall - and residents are to be asked how to spend it.

The money will be paid by Miller Homes in the form of a community fund, in exchange for building 149 homes at Snipe House Farm, bordering the estate.

Ward councillor Cyndi Hughes, who represents Park East, said on spending the money: "We are only limited by our own imagination."

A section 106 planning agreement has been struck between Miller Homes and Darlington Borough Council, which will also see £89,000 spent on new play equipment in Skerne Park.

A further £30,000 is also being made available by Miller for a playing field, to be built near Skerne Park Community Centre, along with £40,000 which will go on subsiding local bus services.

Of the £100,000 injection, £25,000 will be paid when the work begins, another £25,000 after the 25th house is occupied, and £50,000 when the 50th house is occupied.

The money will be paid to Darlington Borough Council, which will decide how to spend it in consultation with residents, including Park East Community Partnership.

Sandra Manners, community partnership chairwoman, said: "If the community is consulted properly on this, there will be a real sense of ownership."

Coun Hughes said the community should think beyond bricks and mortar when deciding how to spend the £100,000 windfall.

"It's really exciting, but what we need to is make sure it is spent in a sustainable way," she said.

"What I don't want is the £100,000 being spent on a wall between the new estate and Skerne Park. I have spoken to people and we would like something for young people.

"We have had a lot of capital investment - for example the Coleridge Centre. Now we really need to invest in community building."

Fellow Park East councillor Peter Freitag said: "It's great news. I would like to see the money spent on allowing people to help improve the community."

Of the 149 homes, 73 will be semi-detached, and 76 detached. Developers say 20 will be classed as "affordable".