PLANS to turn a former care home in a residential area back into a family house have been approved following community support.

Newlands, an Edwardian villa in Elton Parade, in the west end of Darlington, will now be restored to its former glory, four years after the care home closed.

After the care home closed, an application was submitted tomodernise the building and bring it back into use for adults with profound difficulties.

However, the application was refused.

Mike Odysseus bought the building in 2007, and decided to apply for permission to renovate it as a residential property rather than take advantage of existing rights to run it as a care home.

He also applied for permission to build two five-bedroom executive houses in the grounds to fund the restoration.

Planning consultant Steve Barker, managing director of Darlington-based Prism Planning, said: "Our client brought us in after he was refused permission to restore the property as a dwelling in a previous planning application.

"Rather than appeal against that decision, we suggested he take a different approach.

"We put a lot more effort into consulting more fully with the community, informing them clearly of the options surrounding the property, namely that it be extended as a nursing home or restored to a family home with the two additional properties in the grounds.

"About 90 per cent were in favour of the residential option."

Darlington Borough Council's planning officers recommended the plan be refused, but councillors overruled them and granted permission.

Mr Barker added: "Giving communities a greater say over what goes on in their neighbourhood is a significant part of the coalition Government's localism agenda.

"The positive view expressed by the community in this case could not be ignored.

"With permission for residential use reinstated, the care home use is removed.

"The sympathetic restoration to return the property to a dwelling and enhance the west end conservation area can now take place."

The new houses will incorporatemany of the design features of Newlands.