A SCHEME which planners have been warned has the potential to create another public outcry over the felling of mature and protected trees is set to be considered next week.

Darlington Borough Council’s planning committee will examine a scheme to build 18 three-bedroom and 12 four-bedroom homes at Mowden Hall, Staindrop Road, which would involve chopping down 85 trees, more than a dozen of which are protected, including Scots pine, lime, redwood, yew and sycamores.

A decision over the plan for the two-hectare site which was once home to the Department for Education offices was deferred last month partly to enable councillors to view the trees.

Ahead of last month’s planning meeting, a Darlington Friends of the Earth spokesman said: “I am sure the council and the developer is keen to avoid another Blackwell scenario in terms of tree loss here.”

The warning comes a year after Darlington residents expressed their anger as numerous trees were cut down on the former Blackwell golf course to make way for a 59-home development.

Officers, who have recommended the scheme for approval, said benefits of felling the trees included creating an area of open space and new public viewpoints of the listed building Mowden Hall and it would be difficult to develop the site without losing trees.