A NORTH-EAST MP says he is ‘doing what he believes is right’ by calling on the Secretary of State to review a controversial planning decision.

Darlington Borough Council’s planning committee provoked anger this week (Wednesday, February 17) by approving a highly contentious 200-home development in Middleton St George.

More than 150 people officially objected to the proposals and Sedgefield MP Phil Wilson has written to the Secretary of State requesting that the matter is called-in and reviewed.

The stance taken by Mr Wilson, a Labour MP, puts him in line with the village’s Conservative ward councillors Steve York and Doris Jones, the latter of whom said the issue “went beyond politics”.

Mr Wilson said: “I have made it clear that my view of the housing developments in Middleton St George is that you can understand how local residents feel overwhelmed by the number of planning applications that are coming up in the village.”

He added: “My view is that I will work with anybody that will look after the best interests of Middleton St George.

“I have had lots of correspondence with residents and I have worked with Doris and people who are getting in touch with me; I don’t know what their political preferences are, for me this is about trying to do what I believe is right for the residents of Middleton St George.”

Mr Wilson added that there were plans to build more houses on land near Durham Tees Valley Airport and he felt that this potential development was not being given enough consideration.

And in addition to the 200-homes approved on land off High Stell, an application for another 234 homes – known as the Gladman development – off Sadberge Road was also allowed on appeal after it was initially rejected by Darlington Council last year.

There is now a feeling among many residents that losing the Gladman appeal has made the council's planning committee more likely to approve applications than run the risk of costly appeal processes that could ultimately result in favourable outcomes for developers.

Cllr Jones says this has led to Darlington Council ‘selling Middleton St George down the river’ although the authority’s planning committee insists it is working to national guidelines set by the government.

Planning officers also claimed that many of the residents’ objections to the most recent development, which included traffic and school overcrowding concerns, would not stand up to scrutiny on appeal.

The matter now rests with the Secretary of State who will decide whether the matter needs calling-in and the approval decision reviewed.

No time-frame has yet been given for this process but Mr Wilson is writing to the department again to notify them of the recent approval decision.