THE revamp of a once run-down Darlington estate can enter its next stage after planners approved a development for 400 houses.

Members of Darlington Borough Council's planning committee this week granted outline planning permission for the 413 homes on the site of the former Firthmoor Primary School.

Permission for housing on the regeneration site, to replace 387 demolished homes, was granted in October.

But developers Haslam Homes and Barratt Homes had to make a separate application because of an objection from Sport England.

The organisation had objected to the loss of a playing field which had served the school in Firthmoor.

Sport England representatives had not realised that a new playing field had been created along with the new school at Firthmoor.

Planning officer Adrian Miller said: "Sport England are now satisfied that the replacement playing pitch at the new school is an improvement."