wasteland next to a Darlington housing estate could be revamped with 48 houses.

Developers have drawn up plans to build the new streets behind the Iceland and Aldi supermarkets, off Yarm Road.

McInerney Homes North-East, of Stockton, has submitted an application for full planning permission to Darlington Borough Council to create the development in Heron Close.

"I think it will take a problem area of land and bring it back into community use," said ward councillor Ian Haszeldine.

"We have had real problems with anti-social behaviour on that piece of land for a considerable period of time. This will be a useful development for this area."

The agents for the scheme - Darlington firm England and Lyle - have outlined plans to build 48 detached and semi detached two-storey homes on the site.

The land is a former builder's yard, and levels of methane gas have been detected from restored claypits underground. Developers have pledged to monitor gas levels if the scheme is approved.

"It's a very delicate development because of the issue about contamination on that land," said Coun Haszeldine.

"The developers will have something in place to deal with that. We did have concerns about access to the site and developers were good enough to take those on board."

Ian Lyle, a partner for England and Lyle, said: "The site already has outline planning consent for housing, which was given in 1991.

"This new application is putting the finer details to that scheme.

"It's a residential area and we're putting in family housing sympathetic with properties in that area. I think it's an appropriate development.

"There is an issue over methane gas at the site. Part of the site is an old clay pit that was filled in many, many moons ago.

"We will be monitoring that to make sure there is no risk to residents."

The plans can be viewed at Darlington Town Hall.