CONTROVERSIAL plans to build thousands of homes across Darlington will be discussed in-depth at a special council meeting tomorrow (Thursday, October 2).

More than 1,000 people have given their views in response to Darlington Borough Council’s draft Making and Growing Places document, which aims to meet housing demand by establishing about 6,000 new homes in the town by 2026.

In response to the proposals, several pockets of strong opposition have grown up in areas earmarked for potential development with residents and community groups expressing a multitude of concerns.

The council received about 750 written responses and heard comments from a further 400 people as part of a public consultation that ended in July.

A report summarising the responses will be considered during a special place scrutiny committee meeting taking place at Darlington’s town hall at 9.30am tomorrow.

The report identifies a number of common concerns raised repeatedly by objectors and acknowledges the strength of public feeling surrounding the proposals.

It says: “Not unexpectedly, there has been strong local opposition to development on the proposed allocated housing sites.

“Although the reasons vary in detail between sites there are common threads around the potential impact on local traffic, access difficulties, impact on the local amenity of adjacent properties, impact on biodiversity levels, likely flooding and surface water drainage issues, loss of recreational open space, loss of views and impact on property values...and availability of more appropriate alternatives.”

More than 80 per cent of responses concerned potential developments around Hartington Way/Bellburn Lane and Muscar House Farm, while significant levels of objection were also lodged in relation to sites around Lime Avenue, Harrowgate Hill, Eggleston View and the Eastern Urban Fringe.

However, the report says the proposals are in line with national planning policy and take into account local housing needs as influenced by changing household formations, longer life expectancies and people moving to the Borough.

Concerned residents and community groups who have banded together to campaign against the proposals are expected to attend tomorrow’s meeting in a bid to protect valued community spaces from potential development.

A detailed schedule of comments received during the public consultation, and council responses, is now available at darlington.gov.uk/mgp

Final decisions about the housing sites and other policies included in the Making and Growing Places plan are expected to be made at a cabinet meeting to be held in December.