PLANS have been approved to convert a former school field into 34 new homes – despite initial concerns over the land which is contaminated with harmful chemicals.

Residents bordering the old Alderman Leach playing field in Darlington had sought assurances from developers and planning officials after traces of asbestos were found on the site in 2013.

But Darlington Borough Council’s planning applications committee voted to approve the Cockerton scheme after developers revised their original plans after listening to existing homeowners in the area.

Representatives from Hebburn-based developers, Keepmoat, were at the Town Hall meeting on Wednesday (May 4) and settled objector’s causes for concern over contaminated soil and flooding.

Committee members heard that ten formal objections had been submitted from School Street and Sugar Hill Grove residents in total.

Darlington Borough Council planning officer, David Coates, summarised the issues over narrow access roads, flood risks, security problems and the potential impact on wildlife thriving in the area.

But Ian Prescott, Keepmoat’s land and partnerships director, said that a series of consultation meetings between the applicants and residents had quelled initial anxieties over the development.

Mr Prescott said: “This scheme is targeted towards first-time buyers and we’ve had two consultation events and lots of individual correspondence with residents.

“We hoped to bring something forward that addressed planning issues on the site addressed the initial concerns from residents.”

Keepmoat initially submitted an application in January, before amended plans with updated flood risk and drainage documents were attached in late April.

The former playing field, which borders West Beck – a contributory to the River Tees, will now see a range of two-bedroom and three-bedroom homes added to the land, alongside several affordable houses and 60 car parking spaces.

The council’s Planning Applications Committee chairman, Councillor Paul Baldwin, said that an enhanced consultation process between developers and residents had led to the application being the best it could be.

Cllr Baldwin said: “It reflects on the residents that the engagement between them and Keepmoat has been impressive.

“We’ve seen this application change and we need to encourage members to consider what engagement with residents can do, rather than having them set up a group to protest against the plan.

“Rather than residents saying they don’t want a brick laid on the ground, they’ve worked with Keepmoat.”