A REQUEST for the Government to consider a controversial housing development that would bring a village to “saturation point” has been rejected.

Darlington’s Mayoress Cllr Doris Jones had asked for the decision to build 27 new homes in Middleton St George to be called in.

The ward councillor for Sadberge and Middleton St George made the request after Darlington Borough Council’s planning committee ignored recommendations from council planning officers and approved the build of the homes on Middleton Lane.

Sajid Javid, the Secretary of State for the Department for Communities and Local Government has now responded to Cllr Jones and has stated he is “satisfied” the application should be determined at local level.

This comes after it was revealed major plans for new housing and services will be considered for Durham Tees Valley Airport next week in a development which Cllr Jones said “sounded the death knell for the airport”.

The airport’s owner, Peel Holdings, described the plan as a scheme which will enable it to gather funds to invest in the future of the airport, but Cllr Jones said the planned homes were “practically on the runway”.

Darlington Borough Council will consider the proposals at a planning committee meeting on Wednesday and the scheme has been recommended for approval. More than 400 objections have already been received. Cllr Jones said she was “devastated” and had “great concerns” for the future of the village.

“Some people will say that 27 homes is not a lot, but in our village everything is getting full to capacity.”

“Our doctors’ surgery is struggling to cope, the roads are just about gridlocked, and children are having to get buses to schools out of the village.

“People are suffering in Middleton St George and it will be the residents that currently live here that will have to pay the price.”

In the letter, the Secretary of State says: “The Government remains committed to giving more power to councils and communities to make their own decisions on planning issues, and believe that planning decisions should be made at the local level wherever possible.

“The call-in policy makes it clear that the power to call in a case will only be used very selectively.”

The airport development site includes the airport’s existing car park, the St George hotel complex and would include 350 homes, a local services centre which will include retail and offices, a cafe, restaurant, pub, gym, car showroom, parking and community facilities.