CONTROVERSY surrounds plans to build more than 100 homes and a 120-acre community woodland on greenbelt land in Teesside.

Residents in Normanby, near Middlesbrough, are being offered the chance to hear more about the Yuill Homes scheme to develop land along Skipper's Lane between the A1085 trunk road and the junction with Ormesby Road.

A meeting will be held next week to give locals more information but 200 people have already signed a petition opposing the plan.

Redcar and Cleveland borough councillor Carole Ealand said: "Most of the people who are going to be affected by it are totally against it.

"Normanby is a small area and it is known for its traffic problems so another development will just add to it.

"People also want this to be kept as a green wedge of land and that is why they bought their properties there."

Redcar and Cleveland Council has been discussing the project with Yuill Homes for 18 months and expects a planning application to go before its planning committee either next month or in March.

In October, Councillor George Dunning chaired a meeting at The Parklands pub in Skipper's Lane when 120 people put their objections to the development.

He said: "It was a very heated debate but most people want it to remain green and do not want a development there at all.

"I tried to find people in favour of the scheme to balance the discussion but nobody supported it.

"People think once the developer has got a foothold the building work will mushroom and only add to the urban sprawl."

An exhibition detailing the proposals will take place on Wednesday at the Methodist Church Hall, in Cleveland Street, Normanby, between 2pm and 8pm.

Lindsay Greenhalgh, marketing communications manager for Yuill Homes, said: "The proposals will improve the local environment and quality of life for everybody and supports the regeneration of the area.

"We are keen to hear what people feel about the proposals and ask that they come along to the exhibition and find out more."

Those unable to attend the meeting can write to the developer with their views at Yuill Homes, Cecil House, Loyalty Road, Hartlepool, TS25 5BD, marking the envelope Eston Proposals.