A CONTROVERSIAL housing scheme on the site of Darlington's Mowden Park Rugby Football Club's ground has cleared a major hurdle.

The Secretary of State for the Environment has told Darlington Borough Council it has no objections to the proposal by Yuill Homes.

But the developers must abide by planning conditions, which include almost £200,000 in environmental improvements to the area and a £55,000 donation to improve public transport.

That money will be used to increase the frequency of bus services to and from the site.

The environmental benefits will consist of £124,000 for woodland management and footpath improvements from Staindrop Road to the Baydale Beck area.

There will also be a £69,800 subsidy for play equipment on open space near the site.

However, Yuill Homes must wait for the start of its 32-flat development on the nearby Mowden shops site, which includes the refurbishment of business premises and the demolition of others, before making a start on the rugby club site.

Replacement playing facilities for the rugby teams must also be found before the company builds on the pitches.

The first phase of the development will take in the second team pitch, and it is hoped that, by the time that work is completed, the new Mowden Park club ground will have been completed on the massive West Park development near Faverdale.

A council spokesman said of the Secretary of State's decision: "It now means things can progress fairly quickly."

Yuill wants to demolish the clubhouse and grounds at the rugby club's Yiewsley Drive home and build 67 homes on the eight-acre site.

The plans attracted 140 letters of objection to the council, and the authority's planning committee referred the case to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and Regions (Government Office North-East) in December.

Objections covered a variety of issues, including worries over loss of open space and the impact on landscaping, wildlife and nature conservation, and the loss of sporting and community facility. Traffic worries and the development's impact on the surrounding area were also highlighted.

December's planning committee meeting was told that council officers argued that because of the continued success of the club, the knock-on effects of parking and traffic on match days could be eased by the club's move.