A SMALL housing development has been granted permission despite planning officer recommendation for refusal following impassioned plea to breathe new life into an east Cleveland village.

Plans for the 46 home development on a greenfield site on the outskirts of Carlin How had been approved in 2013 but the application to renew the approval was marked down to be blocked by members of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council’s regulatory committee.

Cllr Barry Hunt, who represents the ward on the authority, told members that the proposal was necessary to attract more people to village and keep it alive.

“I still fully believe that there is an opportunity for this site to work,” he said. “East Cleveland is having a tough time of it at the moment with all the job losses, but we should be trying to attract more people to the area as we still have a lot to offer.

“The people who by the homes don’t have to work in Carlin Howe but the people of the area will still benefit if it helps to keep the shops and businesses open.”

The land owner secured planning permission at a time when the council did not have an agreed housing development plan but members heard that its position was due to change in a matter of weeks when a 5.3year future development plan was due to be agreed.

The applicant’s planning agent Rod Hepplewhite, of Prism Planning, told members that two prospective developers were waiting on the sidelines with the intention of building the estate if renewed planning consent was granted.

He said the application was identical to the original and the only change was the council was working towards its agreed five year planning strategy.

Cllr Mary Lanigan proposed that the members rejected officer recommendation and approve the scheme at Low Cragg Hall Farm.

“Carlin How is a very small village,” she said. “The people in the village are wanting this development because they are saying themselves that it is stagnant. I feel it would put some life back into the village.”

Her proposal to grant permission for the application was seconded by Cllr Cliff Foggo (CORR).

Liberal Democrat member Mary Ovens said: “I can’t see that things have changed dramatically other than the five year plan. I feel the developer and the council officers are stuck between two places. I don’t think anything has changed to persuade me that we should go back on the original decision.”

A vote to ignore officer recommendation and give approval to the scheme was passed unanimously.