PLANS to build thousands of homes across Darlington were scrutinised at a town hall meeting, as campaigners voiced strong opposition and councillors vowed to protect the town’s heritage.

There was standing room only at a special meeting of Darlington Borough Council’s place scrutiny committee on Thursday (October 2) morning.

The meeting was arranged to discuss the council’s controversial Making and Growing Places plan, which aims to meet growing housing need by establishing almost 6,000 homes in the town by 2026.

Councillors scrutinised an in-depth report detailing the results of a recent public consultation while members of the public shared their thoughts on the potential development of a number of sites around Darlington.

The majority of those in attendance were opposing the development of a 29-acre site at Muscar House Farm while others spoke against plans to build houses on Bellburn Lane field, a popular recreational space.

The concerns expressed echoed those detailed in the report, with issues raised including the impact of the potential development on valued green spaces, local services, traffic, school places and biodiversity.

Whessoe parish councillor Sylvia Dawson said the plans would drive people away from the town.

She said: “You’re making people born and bred in Darlington say they don’t want to live here anymore.

“I moved here for the community and it’s that community that will be wrecked.”

Councillors were eager to maintain Darlington’s community and character, with Councillor Paul Harman expressing concern about developers potentially “closing in” estates and chair of the committee, Councillor Dorothy Long pledging commitment to the town’s heritage.

Cllr Harman said: “The glory of this town is in its open spaces and views that give people a sense of open air – this is what the Quakers gave us and Darlington is desirable because of those vistas.”

Cllr Long said: “We are very much concerned with the heritage of Darlington and confident that the plan will be sensitive to the heritage and industrial archaeology of the Borough, something that’s important to us all.”

She added: “We are committed to economic growth and see the planning process as facilitation, not an obstacle in the way.

“We need to have a balanced approach working with residents and developers to improve the town and plan correctly.”

Final decisions about the housing sites and other policies included in the plan will be made at a cabinet meeting in December.

The document scrutinised at the meeting is available online at darlington.gov.uk/mgp