PLANS to build a dormer bungalow on a patch of land on the outskirts of a village estate have been passed by councillors despite the concerns of local residents.

People living close to the site of the proposed bungalow, in Friars Pardon, in Hurworth, near Darlington, had raised issues about flooding, loss of privacy and the impact on traffic in the cul de sac.

The application for the single property, which will be built on part of the garden of an existing house, had previously been passed on appeal by the planning inspector but, after the time allowed for building elapsed, it returned to Darlington Borough Council’s planning committee.

Planning officers from the council told members of the authority’s planning committee that they had attempted to alleviate residents’ concerns as much as possible by placing conditions on the plans, particularly on the issue of surface water run-off by using careful drainage.

However, planning officer Dave Coates told members the fact that identical plans had been allowed by the planning inspector on appeal after previously being turned down by the committee had to be given strong consideration.

Both the Environment Agency and Northumbrian Water said they had no concerns about flooding at the site, which was questioned by residents.

Friars Pardon resident Eileen Miller told the committee that she had lived in the street since 1981 and had seen serious flooding on the proposed building site on numerous occasions after water ran off nearby fields.

She added: “When the flooding is bad it is quite frightening to see. I fail to see how putting a concrete building on this land will help with the flooding when all the natural drainage is gone.

“How can the Environment Agency and Northumbrian Water say there is no flooding issues when we have been working with them and the council for months to make improvements to alleviate flooding.”

Mr Coates told the committee that he had no wish to diminish the concerns of residents and said he had taken their evidence into account when placing conditions on the plans, but that the statutory bodies had no concerns.

Councillor Bill Stenson, a member of the committee, said: “As far as I can see, the drainage suggested for this property will improve the situation. It will take water away from the land properly.”