A BUSINESSMAN said he could face massive debts if a scheme for flats in Middleton St George was turned down a second time.

Rob Maxey told Darlington Borough Council planning committee last week that his firm Ernest Bennett Saws had been in the village for 40 years, until permission was granted for a housing estate next door.

Pre-empting complaints about noise or fumes from his factory, he had moved everything to Teesside airport on the understanding that Clarion Homes would buy his land.

But the developer was turned down when it applied for three-storey flats and the outcome of an appeal had yet to be announced.

Last Wednesday, Clarion Homes applied for 16 linked two-storey blocks on the same site. But the owner of a nearby strip of land tried to block the scheme, because it could prejudice any future housing he might decide upon.

Mr Maxey, 62, said: "Many people in the area believe I moved out of this development and pocketed the money. There were 55 jobs on that site, which have been moved to Teesside airport.

"I am hoping for planning consent today which will enable the developers to pay me for the land."

Adrian Miller, planning officer, said the other party had not made an application, but had submitted drawings of a detached house and flats which were possible options.

The argument that the current proposal would sterilise the potential of the adjoining land would be difficult to sustain.

Coun David Lyonette said the original application had been for the whole Ernest Bennett Saws site through to Arc-Tic Milburn, which would have been better than piecemeal development.

"I think it is unfortunate we haven't more powers to look at an area as a whole. If this is going to be developed, it should be done altogether."

The committee approved the application.