THE re-development of the former home of Darlington FC will not include a block of affordable apartments as previously agreed by councillors.

Planning application was granted by Darlington Borough Council in 2014 for developers to build 82 houses at a site on the ex-Feethams ground, including 12 two-bed flats, overlooking Victoria Embankment.

Under the approved planning permission, Persimmon Homes were required to secure a social housing provider to maintain the apartments before the rest of the partially-completed site build could continue.

However, Darlington Borough Council’s Planning Applications Committee members heard yesterday that no landlords had been found during a two-year search with developers applying to drop their affordable housing agreement.

Senior planning officer, David Coates, said: “I don’t believe anyone has tried to pull the wool over our eyes.

“It’s just that social landlords all over the country are facing this same situation.

Committee members agreed to modify the Persimmon Homes’ planning agreement during their Town Hall meeting which will now see the apartments built off South Terrace and sold on an open market.

Several councillors raised concerns over the loss of social accommodation that had been formally objected to by one resident.

Councillor Ian Haszeldine said: “Time after time, we grant planning permission with affordable housing and 18 months down the line, [developers] come back and ask us to take it off.

“It feels like it’s thrown back at us. We have a concern for our residents of the town in need of social housing.”

During the meeting, Mr Coates explained that an off-site contribution would be made by developers in lieu of the flats proposed for the social housing market.

For the 12 apartments, valued at £83,500 each, Persimmon Homes will offer £300,600 to the council to fund affordable builds elsewhere in the town.

Planning Applications Committee members agreed to the deal on the condition that if the flats are sold for more than £83,500, the extra cash generated would be handed over to the council.

Mr Coates added: “With that type of money, if it was built on council land, we could afford the same number of houses.

“There is a need for affordable housing in that area but we wouldn’t ‘lose’ any social housing if we built on council land.”

A Persimmon Homes representative said the Feethams build is expected to continue until 2019.