CONTROVERSIAL plans to build more than 1,000 homes and a new police force headquarters is to be discussed at a meeting.

Middlesbrough Council's planning and development committee is moving from the town hall to Middlesbrough Teaching and Learning Centre, in the town's Cargo Fleet Lane, which can accommodate the many supporters and objectors expected to attend the meeting on Friday, December 2, from 1pm.

The application is for up to 295 homes at the Grey Towers Farm development, 343 homes at Stainsby Hall Farm, 106 homes at Rose Cottage Farm, and up to 375 homes on the existing Ladgate Lane police headquarters site. The new Cleveland Police headquarters is planned on land at Hemlington Grange.

Following a public consultation about the detailed applications, nearly 700 people put forward their opinions.

Views will be considered by the planning and development committee before a final decision is taken by the Highways Agency.

Councillor Charlie Rooney, Middlesbrough Council's executive member for regeneration and economic development, said: "We appreciate that the lengthy process necessary to evaluate applications on this scale creates a great deal of uncertainty for the local communities affected by the proposals.

"The process is further delayed because, quite rightly, any recommendation from the planning and development committee must then meet with approval from the Highways Agency.

"But it is also accepted that we need to build new, highquality family homes in Middlesbrough to reverse the trend of a generation that has seen a sharp decline in our population. This process is all about ensuring that those schemes that get the go-ahead are the right ones for the future of the town."