12:08pm Wednesday 8th July 2009
By Paul Cook
THE former home of one of the region's football clubs is to make way for housing.
Plans have been submitted to build 146 homes on the site of Darlington Football Club's former home at Feethams, Darlington.
Quakers played at the ground from 1883 until they moved to a new arena, in 2003.
Vandals and arsonists wrecked the old ground before demolition began in March 2006. All that remains is part of the Tin Shed stand, the overgrown pitch and mangled steel.
Architects first drew up plans for the site in 2007.
The plans they submitted to Darlington Borough Council last week are the result of more than two years of consultation with the public, and up to two years of talks with the council's planning officers.
The plans, lodged on behalf of Esh Group, include 51 houses of between two and four bedrooms, 78 one and two-bedroomed flats, five social-rented houses and 12 social-rented flats.
Access, which has been the main cause for the delay on the project, will be via South Terrace, between the cricket club and the River Skerne.
Brian Johnson, chairman of Darlington Cricket Club management committee, which owns the land, promised thatmoney from the sale of the land would be used for sport. He said: "The intention would be to makemajor improvements to secure cricket for future generations and the survival of the club."
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