DEVELOPERS are hoping to revive a plan to build a new housing estate in Darlington which was refused permission three years ago.

Up to 30 homes could be built on the site of a former coal depot off East Mount Road under plans submitted to Darlington Borough Council.

The scheme has been drawn up by site owners Ward Bros (Steel) Limited, of Albert Road.

A similar application for the two acre site was refused in 2006 because the land is designated for employment use only.

If approved, the latest plan will see 30 homes built, nine of which will be designated as affordable.

The site in question is open grassland bordered by terraced homes, warehouses and the Bishop Auckland to Darlington branch railway line.

The application, submitted by agents England and Lyle, states: "It is understood that the site has remained unused for some time and has certainly not been in use for the last ten years while in our clients ownership.

"The proposed development will bring back into use a previously developed site in a sustainable location within easy walking distance of Darlington town centre.

"The proposed development will significantly improve the site frontage onto East Mount Road."

A section of the site is restricted as open space, but the plans state that that area will be kept as a "landscape buffer" to separate the homes from the nearby railway line.

The application for outline planning permission calls for the restrictions preserving the site for employment use to be lifted to stop the land from remaining vacant for years to come.

The papers, which are available to view at the town hall, state: "The suitability of the East Mount Road site for employment uses is questionable as the site has been protected for such uses for a considerable period of time and during this time has remained vacant.

"Employment uses, particularly those likely to be suitable for a site such as this are unlikely to generate high enough end values to be commercially viable.

"It is therefore considered that the site is likely to remain undeveloped unless a use which is economically viable can be found."

Planners will rule on the application in the coming months.