RESIDENTS fear that a housing development will have a devastating impact on their village.

People living in Middleton St George, near Darlington, have complained for years about how extra housing is affecting the character of the village.

Properties have been built throughout the community and Darlington Borough Council will today discuss whether to approve planning permission for another development.

Mandale Properties wants to build 34 detached houses and 32 flats on industrial land, north of Yarm Road.

But residents say the roads and the village school will not be able to cope with the extra number of people moving into the area.

Ward councillor Doris Jones said yesterday: "We are already over-congested and don't have the facilities to cope with any more people coming into the village.

"The village is becoming a small town and the roads are not designed to take the amount of extra traffic the new homes will bring.

"The development will cause severe problems and it is time the council looked long-term when deciding whether to give it the go ahead."

Members of the authority's planning applications committee will be told that the developer has agreed to make a financial contribution towards an extension to Middleton St George Primary School.

This would be needed because the school is already over-subscribed and this growth will continue until 2011.

Mandale Properties will also be asked to make a contribution to the cost of improving public transport links with the site.

The council report says: "The existing site comprises large factory and warehouse premises, which are prominent when viewed from Yarm Road. Many are in a poor state of repair and the land overgrown.

"The redevelopment of the site will result in a significant improvement to the visual amenity of the area."

Councillors are being recommended to grant planning permission, subject to conditions, although Middleton St George Parish Council has asked for the application to be deferred so it can study the plans in greater detail.

nshaefe