MILLIONAIRE businessman Sir John Hall has rushed to the defence of a beleaguered council masterplan, saying it showed ambition not seen in the North-East for many, many years.

The former Newcastle United chairman and owner of Wynyard Hall said he was devastated, appalled and horrified at Planning Inspector Harold Stephens’ damning criticism of Durham County Council’s multi-billion-pound vision the County Durham Plan (CDP) and questioned whether Mr Stephens truly understood the North-East and its economic problems.

The 80-year-old MetroCentre founder praised the 20-year vision, which aimed to transform the county into a northern economic powerhouse, for its ambition, foresight and leadership.

And he hit out at green campaigners who fought against it, saying: “It seems like the bats, the newts and things like that have greater legal rights or opportunities than the public.”

Sir John’s comments will come as a much-needed boost to council chiefs, who were left shocked by Mr Stephens’ interim findings, published on Wednesday (February 18) three months after the end of a six-week public inquiry, which slammed the CDP as unrealistic, flawed, undeliverable and unsound.

Sir John said: “I totally disagree with the Inspector. It’s been ripped apart.

“They’ve come up with a strategy for economic regeneration and growth.

“On the back of that with the money you create you can have all your cycle ways, footpaths and bat belfries. I feel so sad ambition was relegated to the fourth division.”

Such strong support for a Labour council may be surprising from such a prominent Conservative backer, but Sir John said: “I’m not of their political beliefs but I’m supporting them totally.

“This was an ambitious plan – and the word ambitious has never been present in this region for many, many years.

“Here we are with a Labour council showing this level of ambition – it’s wonderful. They need to be supported fully and I am 100 per cent behind them.”

The Ashington-born businessman backed the council’s strategy of capitalising on its economic assets rather than trying to regenerate rundown areas, saying: “People don’t want to build where there’s sheep.

“If you get success, more success comes with it.

“Investors will invest where they can see success, where they can see cranes on the skyline. They’re not going to invest in the rural areas, unless they want a second house.

“The A19-A1 corridor is the engine house between Teesside and Tyneside. There’s not a lot of money going round so you’ve got to put your money where it works.

“If you start spending it everywhere, you’ll get nowhere.”

The CDP’s headline targets are 30,000 new jobs, 31,400 homes, 9,500sq metres of retail space and 500 hectares of employment land by 2030.

It focuses heavily on turning Durham City into a boom town, with 5,000 new homes – 4,000 of which would be on Green Belt land, two new bypasses costing around £100m and a world-class business hub at Aykley Heads.

Sir John called on business to unite in support of the plan; and talks have already begun behind closed doors around mounting a co-ordinated response.

Jonathan Walker, head of member relations at the North East Chamber of Commerce, said it was incredibly disappointed that Durham’s ambitious proposals had been knocked back.

“We are shocked by what the Inspector had to say and feel that his recommendations not only stifle the ambitious of Durham, but, by implication, the North-East as a whole.

“We intend to seek further conversations with all those involved and hope to see a positive resolution to the current situation.”

However, Durham City MP Roberta Blackman-Woods welcomed Mr Stephens’ report, saying: “I hope the council will change its approach and will listen to and work with residents so we can develop a new plan that is more fitting to the scale and quality of development needed to protect and enhance our beautiful historic city.”

Council chiefs will meet officials from the Planning Inspectorate next month before deciding how to respond to Mr Stephens’ report.