AMENDMENTS to a planning application that has caused consternation for residents have been approved.

Plans to add garages and sun rooms to two houses being built on land at the rear of Mown Meadow, on Middleton Lane, Middleton St George, were given the go-ahead despite concerns about the loss of trees on the site.

Members of Darlington Borough Council’s planning committee were told that the applicant had been in negotiations with the authority’s planning department to come up with a suitable agreement to address the loss of the protected trees.

Principle planning officer David Coates said: “Whilst the applicants have been cavalier in this particular case, their negotiation processes with us since concerns were raised has been positive and we believe we have reached a compromise and I would ask members to support the application.”

Steve Barker, of Prism Planning representing the applicant, said his client had taken over the site after the protected trees had been cut down but admitted his client had been let confused by the different orders on different trees.

He said: “They have been on a steep learning curve which they have held their hands up to and have tried to resolve the problems.”

Committee chairman Paul Baldwin reminded Mr Barker that the council’s planning officers are always available to help with in queries.

Valerie Innes, whose house backs on the application site, was reassured that two trees would be planted at the rear of the site to protect her privacy, after she raised concerns the original scheme had been removed from the amended application.