A DISUSED children's home in Darlington is to be demolished to make way for homes.

The former Beech Rise Children's Centre, in Barmpton Lane, will be replaced with 20 houses.

The home was closed by the council in 2000 after its final resident was rehoused.

At a Darlington Borough Council planning meeting, councillors approved the scheme by Shepherd homes.

The two storey homes consist of 13 three-bedroom terraced and semi-detached homes and seven four-bedroom detached properties.

The houses will be arranged around a cul-de-sac with footpaths on both sides.

As part of the agreement, Shepherd Homes will spend £16,8000 refurbishing and maintaining play areas nearby. The company will also make an undisclosed financial contribution to provide a landscaping and tree planting scheme in council-owned woodland to the west of the area.

The council had received four letters of objection from people living in Barmpton Lane, relating to traffic. Many residents also felt that many of the houses would overlook their properties.