BUILDERS hoping to site hundreds of homes on Yarm School's former playing fields have applied for 235 more homes than originally planned.

In the revised plans, Bellway Homes and Yarm School have asked for permission from Stockton Borough Council to build 735 dwellings on land off Green Lane in Yarm.

The increase is likely to further anger Yarm residents, who are furious after the council's planning committee lastmonth approved a scheme for 350 homes on green fields around Morley Carr Farm, on the west side of the town.

People living in Yarm, Eaglescliffe and Ingleby Barwick, are concerned about the extra traffic the developments will bring.

More than 100 objectors staged a protest last week against the plans outside a Stockton Borough Council consultation meeting at Layfield Primary School, in the town.

Bellway's outline application for Green Lane also includes extra car parking at Yarm railway station, with improvements to access and landscaping.

Yarm School has asked for permission to create new sporting facilities alongside the River Tees, which includes a public park and a new footbridge over the river.

Its plans include a new longstay car park for the town.

The council is currently holding consultations on its long-term plans for additional housing stock. Its preferred options include plans for nearly 7,000 across the borough - including more than 700 at Green Lane, and the housing at Morley Carr, which has already been approved despite its future plans not being rubber-stamped.

James Wharton, MP for Stockton South, whose constituency includes Yarm, said: "It is a real slap in the face for the general public of Yarm.

"I think the whole thing is becoming farcical, as just seen with Morley Carr Farm.

"How can Stockton consult on which sites are appropriate for development when they have already given approval for some?"

A Stockton council statement said the authority had to assess every potential development site and estimate the potential number of properties it could yield.

A decision on Green Lane and the Yarm playing fields will be made at a later date.