EIGHT acres of playing fields at a Darlington school have been earmarked for housing development.

On Tuesday, members of Darlington council's cabinet are expected to approve the sale of 3.1 hectares of land, currently a redundant athletics track and hockey pitch at Longfield School.

The land, which is partly designated as playing fields, is considered to be surplus to requirements and consent for its disposal has been received by the Department of Education and Skills.

To achieve an early sale, draft planning guidance for the provision of more than 50 homes has been drawn up to accompany marketing documents.

As yet no public consultation has taken place over plans to transform the land into housing.

Land not currently designated as playing fields will convert to that status and a small proportion of the money raised will be used to fund improvements and new facilities at the school.

In a report to cabinet, John Buxton, the council's director of development and environment, says "The new playing fields will be prepared and available for use before the subject land is formally disposed of.

"It is proposed that the new fields will have extensive drainage undertaken and there are sufficient capital resources available to undertake these works in advance of the land sale."

If substantial changes need to be made to the draft planning guidance following consultation, the revised guidance will be brought back to cabinet for further discussion.