A GROWING housing estate could have a nursery, care home and health centre within a year, after a planning inspector finally gave the proposals the go-ahead.

Stockton Borough Council's planning committee was labelled "unreasonable" for rejecting the proposal by the inspector, who ruled that Nunthorpe Nurseries could proceed with plans to build the £11m development in Ingleby Barwick.

It brings to an end the fouryear fight by business partners Ian Howlett and Paul Nelson, who never managed to get past the outline planning permission stage of the application.

They can now apply for full planning permission for the Blair Avenue site, and hope to start building soon after that.

"We are very relieved," said Mr Howlett.

"I would like to think that it will be all up and running within 12 to 18 months. We are planning to build a state-of-the-art nursing home, with a hairdressers and internet lounges.

"We estimate a total development of between £10m and £12m."

He said criticism from councillors that the development was uncalled for was totally wrong, and that far from creating more traffic in Ingleby Barwick, he believed providing facilities within walking distance from homes would reduce congestion.

"We are not going to spend the neck-end of £5m on something that is not needed, and the bank would not lend us the money if the plans were not viable."

He said the fact the inspector ordered the council to pay Nunthorpe Nurseries' costs of £28,000 had proved their point.

A spokesman for the council said the application had been refused because of concerns about increased traffic flow and its impact on the character and appearance of the area.

He added: "The later applications were for the approval of the details of layout, scale, external appearance, access and landscaping relating to an application approved in 2004 for a children's nursery and community centre.

"Both appeals related to similar details, which were identical, except in respect of the siting of the proposed children's day nursery.

"The committee refused these on the grounds that satisfactory landscaping could not be provided."

Ingleby Barwick councillor Ken Dixon said he and other members of Ingleby Barwick Independent Society were opposed to the plans on the basis they would attract more traffic and that the facilities were not needed.

He said: "This land could be used to help expand All Saints Secondary School. The main school, across the road, could be extended at the back, so the school is doubled in size, and this site could be used for school playing fields. We still think this is a viable option."