Court-row housing scheme to be decided by council

A FINAL decision on a scaled back housing plan in a North Yorkshire town is looming after an error led to its approval being quashed in the High Court.

Carlington Developments Ltd is aiming to build 10 new homes south of Thornaby Football Club, off Acklam Road in Thornaby.

Stockton planning officials had initially given the plans the thumbs up earlier this year.

But it was found this was done in error and now councillors will decide the plan’s fate at a meeting today.

The developer originally aimed to build 26 homes on the three acre site near Thornaby FC and Thornaby Cricket Club off the A1130.

However, these plans were scaled back after concerns from officers.

Despite the smaller scale plans, there have been fears about the impact the homes could have on Teesdale Park and the nearby cemetery.

Thornaby Town Council has objected ahead of the meeting with worries the “green lungs” of the town would be hit by the housing scheme.

Its letter added: “Thornaby Town Council would contend that any development on any part of this site would greatly reduce the character of an area noted for biodiversity and tranquillity adjacent to an award winning cemetery.”

The authority’s angry missive also slammed the “glaring error” which saw the plan being approved by officers without going to the committee – with the council fearing the plan would do “immeasurable damage to a much cherished area”.

Meanwhile, Coun Mick Moore has also sent his own misgivings to the council ahead of the meeting about “traffic gridlock” on nearby Acklam Road.