THE first step towards mapping out the future expansion and regeneration of Darlington has been taken.

People who live, work and shop in the town are being asked for their views on how they would like to see the borough developed over the next decade.

Darlington Borough Council is sending out a consultation document to 500 organisations and residents.

On Monday, council planning officials put out an appeal for comments from anyone interested in the town's future.

Graham Farr, principal planning officer at the council, said: "Everybody who puts down a marker at this stage will be consulted at all future stages in the process."

It is the opening step in preparing the authority's ten-year Local Plan. The document, due to come into force in 2006, is a blueprint for the provision of housing, jobs and transport links.

Top of the list of priorities is identifying land in the borough for up to 400 new houses a year.

Fresh developments look likely to be centred around Middleton St George, School Aycliffe and in Darlington town.

Government targets insist that at least 60 per cent of new housing must be built on brownfield sites, or land that has already been developed.

Mr Farr said the authority has no idea of how long brownfield sites will last before planning officials need to consider undeveloped areas of greenfield land.

"That is an emotive issue which will be looked at right through the local plan process," he said.

"Everybody will have the chance to have their say."

In rural areas, the plan will address affordable housing, farm diversification and tourism.

It also hopes to halt the decline in the number of corner shops in poor and rural areas of the borough.

Over the past 20 years, the number of food shops outside the town centre has halved from 210 to just over 100.

Other long-term projects that could feature in the document include expanding the industrial estates in Yarm Road and Faverdale.

A questionnaire for comments is available from planning department reception at Darlington Town Hall, or can be downloaded from the council's website at www.darlington.gov.uk.