RESIDENTS have complained about a potential loss of privacy as developers propose to alter housing plans.

Planners have asked for permission to raise the level of housing being built on the site of the former Eastbourne School in Darlington.

The site, currently under construction, consists of a number of houses and bungalows that are nearing completion.

However, drainage problems mean planners need to raise some sections of land on the site – resulting in the potential overlooking of existing properties on The Causeway.

The developers have also submitted plans showing an overlooking of properties and gardens from a proposed cycle path.

Darlington Borough Council’s planning committee will discuss the proposals at a meeting on Wednesday (October 22).

A consultation period held ahead of the meeting saw objections received from residents living adjacent to the affected properties.

Concerns raised included the issue of overlooking as well as the potential of surface water running from new gardens into existing gardens and sloping gardens presenting a risk to wheelchair users.

A report prepared ahead of the meeting recommends that the proposals are approved.

It says: “The applicants have provided plans which show that when the development is complete, there will be some loss of privacy to adjacent residents but not such as to warrant changing the original decision to grant planning permission for the development.

“The plans indicate any loss of privacy to be within acceptable levels to ensure that there is no loss of amenity to existing residents.”