A COUNCIL has been accused of “scoring a massive own goal” after a controversial housing development was allowed on appeal because its housing policies were ruled to be out of date.

The failure of Darlington Borough Council to prove it had an achievable five year supply of housing and a viable development strategy during a planning appeal against a 250 home site means its housing policies for the whole borough may now be challenged by other developers.

Planning inspector Noel Middleton granted Gladman Developments outline planning permission to build 250 homes on a greenfield site at Middleton St George after ruling the council was unable to meet additional housing need in the area and that its policies and projections were out of date.

Darlington Borough Council said it was disappointed at the ruling and acknowledged the national policy which requires local authorities to have a five year housing supply.

Residents of Middleton St George, who have campaigned against the development on the grounds that the village does not have sufficient facilities, laid the blame for the appeal decision squarely on the council.

Ward councillor and parish chairwoman Doris Jones accused it of failing the village - and the entire borough - by refusing to ensure its housing policies would stand up at the appeal.

Cllr Jones choked back tears as she spoke at Middleton St George Parish Council, saying: “The inspector is absolutely damning against Darlington Borough Council’s local plan and the five year housing supply figures.

“Myself and Steve York [Middleton St George’s other ward councillor] went to see a very senior council officer well before the planning inquiry and told them Gladman were scrutinising the council’s figures.

“We begged them to get an independent expert in to make sure they were right and they said 'no', they were confident they had done a good job.

“The first day of the planning inquiry what was the first question they were asked? ‘Have you had your figures independently scrutinised?’ They had to say 'no'.”

She added: “Developers and landowners will be queuing up now to put in planning applications for this village.

“It’s not just our village that is affected by this, it is the whole borough.”

Middleton St George resident Mike McBride said: “The council has failed us badly. They’ve scored a massive own goal in letting this happen – what are they going to do now?”

The Northern Echo asked Darlington Borough Council to comment directly on Cllr Jones’ claims but it did not do so.

In a statement it said: “We are disappointed with the decision to grant planning permission for this development but we acknowledge that one of the key requirements of national planning policy is for councils to significantly boost the supply of housing in their areas and to maintain a five year supply of housing land.”

Richard Mowat, director of Johnson Brook Planning and Development Consultants, agents for Gladman Developments Ltd, said: “Our clients are pleased with the inspector’s decision and they will be looking to sell the site to a house builder at the earliest opportunity.

“Johnson Brook are delighted that the inspector accepted the conclusions set out in our detailed five year land supply assessment.”