AN old Darlington building could be destined for a new lease of life with plans to turn it into luxury homes.

Faverdale Hall and the surrounding buildings could be turned into flats and homes if Darlington Borough Council approves the plans.

The proposals involve demolition of some of the more recent additions to the hall, which are said to be of little architectural value, with the older parts remaining intact.

The front of the hall would be converted into two luxury apartments, and the stable block into three houses.

There is also an application for outline planning permission for 18 homes in a residential development.

That work would include the partial demolition of the hall and its renovation. Leftbank Developments, of Newcastle, would do the work, but no one from the company was willing to comment last night.

Members of the council's planning committee will consider the application shortly.

Faverdale Hall, hidden behind an industrial estate, belonged to the Stowell family, of Darlington, from 1770 until 1897, when it was sold to keen foxhunter Charles Hubert Backhouse.

He rebuilt the hall, adding two wings to the 18th Century house, and building the stables, with a tower.

Faverdale Hall was sold to the North Eastern Railway in 1913, and by 1946 it was turned into a railway training school.

It was bought by Darlington council in 1963 and looked after by Faverdale Training and Adventure until the present day.

The development is near the proposed West Park development, which includes 750 houses on the former Darchem chemical works, a new ground for Mowden rugby club, a 33-acre park and a £20m NHS mental hospital.

Bussey and Armstrong, which is spearheading the development, has also applied for planning permission for a new road linking Faverdale Road to Faverdale Industrial Estate, which includes the creation of a roundabout on West Auckland Road.

Councillors are due to consider the road scheme at a planning meeting today