RESIDENTS have been given reassurance that future developments in Hurworth are unlikely to get the go ahead once a local plan has been approved.

Housing developments already underway in the village were approved because Darlington Borough Council failed to finalise its latest Local Plan in time leaving it open to legal challenge, Hurworth Annual Meeting was told.

The local authority is currently working on the latest plan to identify land suitable for development across the borough which should make it more difficult for applications to be approved, according to borough ward councillor Joe Kelley.

He told residents that the lack of an adopted Local Plan meant the authority was unable to fight off 'piece meal' applications unless members of its planning committee were able to provide proof that there was no need for housing.

David Hand, the borough council's planning policy manager, said that once the latest local plan is adopted it will set out housing priorities across the borough for the next 20 years.

He said: "The plan is due to go before scrutiny committee members next week, and, if approved, a consultation process will begin on June 21. It's a 20-year-plan – this is about youth of today and providing housing for them.

"There is a requirement that there is a five-year supply of housing – that is a legal requirement – and the draft local plan includes robust arguments to use against developers wanting to build in unsuitable areas across the borough."

Concerns were raised about applications being submitted before the 20-year plan is approved by the government.

The planning expert, who has already successfully secured Local Plan documents for other local authorities, showed residents two maps of the village – one with substantial portions of land that developers or landowners wanted to use for housing and another highlighting that none of them were included in the draft local plan.

Urging residents to get behind the plan, he said: "I think its a sound plan, it's meeting our requirements for the next 20 years, we need a robust argument and that is what we have got."

l Darlington Borough Council's place scrutiny committee meeting is due to take place next Wednesday at 9.30am in the Town Hall.

For details about the draft local plan visit https://microsites.darlington.gov.uk/local-plan/