PROPOSALS for a 160-home development that will pave the way for the long-awaited relocation of a cattle market have taken a step forward.

Darlington Farmers' Auction Market (DFAM), which runs the mart in the town's Clifton Road, is working with Darlington Borough Council to relocate the business to a purpose-built facility on the outskirts of the town.

Funds raised by the sale of land DFAM owns opposite The Northern Echo Arena, in Neasham Road, will help smooth the way for the cattle market to be relocated to a site at Humbleton Farm, close to the A68.

Although the 11.5-acre site of the proposed housing estate falls outside of the council's existing development limits, the authority is keen for the homes to be built in order for the mart move to progress.

To that end, members of the council's planning applications committee agreed to make variations to the terms of a legal agreement covering the residential development.

At a meeting on Wednesday, committee members approved variations to a Section 106 (s106) agreement – an arrangement entered into between developers and local authorities when it is considered that a proposed development would have a greater impact on its local area than could be mitigated by conditions attached to planning permission.

Such agreements create an obligation on the part of the developer to fund improvements to the local area, in order for the development to have a positive impact.

Under the varied terms agreed by members on Wednesday, the developer will be liable for a financial contribution of up to £250,000 towards primary school places and road repairs.

When a s106 agreement was discussed between council officers and DFAM back in 2009 – during a previous failed attempt to move the market – a financial obligation in excess of £900,000 was arrived at.

A report prepared for members said imposing such a condition on the revised s106 agreement would 'render the relocation scheme unviable by significantly reducing the capital received for the Neasham Road site and therefore resulting in a shortfall in funding for the project'.

The report said the reduction in financial contributions were supported by a chartered surveyor.

Members approved other changes to the terms of the s106 agreement, including that no development be allowed to proceed at Neasham Road until all pre-commencement planning conditions have been fulfilled and a material start has been made on site at Humbleton Farm.