A REVISED plan to demolish farm buildings and a former scaffolding works and replace them with four houses is set to be debated by councillors.

The brownfield site lies off Middleton Road, on the outskirts of Sadberge, near Darlington, and is largely hidden from the main road by a row of conifer trees.

The application to Darlington Borough Council, submitted by Ian Mitchell, states that the proposed site would use existing access from Middleton Road but would take the form of a cul-de-sac with private driveways leading to each property.

An earlier application for six houses on the site was turned down by Darlington Borough Council in October last year on the grounds it would result “in the creation of a relatively isolated development projecting into the open countryside.”

Planning officers in the earlier application also raised concerns about the sustainability of the site and said residents would be too reliant on cars to access services.

However, when considering the revised application for four properties, a planning report prepared for members of the council’s planning committee states: “The application site is not located in a particularly sustainable location in terms of easy access by a range of travel modes and future occupiers would be largely reliant on the use of private cars.

“Nevertheless the proposal is only for four dwellings and would be located next to existing residential properties. Sadberge village is within a relatively reasonable walking distance although there is no footway and desire lines are evident along the grass verges on Middleton Road.

“The proposal is not considered to raise such significant issues regarding sustainability to the extent that planning permission should be refused.

“A condition requiring a connection from the site to the existing footway network in Sadberge would be appropriate to improve accessibility.”

There are no objections to the site from the Highways Agency, the Environment Agency or the council’s highways officer.

Sadberge Parish Council has objected to the application on the grounds that the site is outside the village envelope and should not be developed for housing.

The report concludes: The site is located outside the development limits but it is a brownfield site, located next to existing dwellings with the proposal limited to only four dwellings.

“It would fit in with the development pattern of the area and would not protrude into the open countryside. It would also allow for improvements to the visual appearance of the site.

"On balance the development is considered to be sufficiently sustainable in this case to justify granting planning permission.”

The planning committee will meet to discuss the application on Wednesday, March 11 at 1.30pm.