A HOUSING developer is looking to increase the number of homes being built in a village near Darlington.

George Wimpey North-East was granted permission at the turn of the year to build 102 houses on land occupied by old industrial buildings, on Station Road, Middleton St George. A separate application has now been submitted to Darlington Borough Council to allow alterations to the layout of the site to accommodate two further houses.

Parish council chairwoman Doris Jones said there was no objection to the size of the site.

The parish council also welcomed the £125,000 from Wimpey for improvements to the village. Wimpey is providing money towards maintenance and improvement of the play area, provision of bus shelters in Station Road, traffic calming measures, redevelopment of the school and £5,000 for a tree planting scheme.