A CONTROVERSIAL plan to build six houses in a Teesdale town has been recommended for approval.

Several neighbouring residents have complained that the proposed site at Harmire Close in Barnard Castle would become overdeveloped if the application is given the go-ahead.

The application, submitted by Christine and Graham Wood, involves demolishing one house and replacing it with two terraces of three houses.

A similar scheme was submitted in October last year, but was withdrawn after it was recommended for refusal because one of the parking spaces was on a pubic road.

It was amended so that each property has one allocated parking space.

Barnard Castle Town Council objected to the plan because a covenant exists which prevents the land being used for anything other than a garden.

The application is for this to be removed.

Recommending approval, planning officer Wendy Thompson said: "The site is considered to be previously developed, as it is a garden, but the issue relating to the covenant is not one for the planning committee to consider."

Teesdale District Council's planning committee will discuss the application on Wednesday, at 5.30pm.