A NEW residential court complex has been proposed to help provide affordable housing in an area of Darlington.

Plans have been sent to council officers to build eight new semi-detached homes at Beaumont Hill, Darlington.

Malcolm Brunton has submitted the plans to erect the homes on the site of an existing house on the northbound site of the A167 outside Harrowgate Hill.

He said in the application that the proposals were to add eight affordable homes in an area which was short of such houses.

The eight houses would be built in a court complex set back from the main road. They would be each three bedrooms and two storeys built in traditional red brick with slate roofs.

The homes would be in an area of the main road, which has a 40mph speed limit, but is also on a bus route served by four nearby stops.

In the outline application it said: "We are proposing to demolish the existing two-storey dwelling and all other buildings and erect eight three-bedroomed two-storey semi-detached affordable houses on the site.

"Our proposals are not to overdevelop the site but to provide a safe and vibrant environment for occupants within easy commuting distance to Darlington town centre as well as other neighbouring villages and towns."

The application will also include parking spaces for 12 cars.