Eaglescliffe MoD site to be turned into housing complex

Eaglescliffe Ltd co-owner Chris Musgrave is now seeking a developer for the site

An old Ministry of Defence site on Teesside is to be turned into a housing and retail complex creating "thousands" of construction jobs.

Plans for Allens West in Eaglescliffe include 846 houses, a 60-bed care home, shopping parade and community facilities.

They were approved by Stockton Borough Council's planning committee.

The team behind the application said, as part of the scheme, more than £2.3m would be invested in the area.

Darlington-based Prism Planning, which acted for landowner Eaglescliffe Limited, said money would be invested in local schools, bus and rail infrastructure, footpaths and cycleways as well as Yarm's first long-term car park.

The company's managing director, Steve Barker, said: "The shops and extra care home will generate additional employment opportunities once they are developed.

"Economically, this permission will be a great boost to the area and will help to finally secure a positive use for a site that has been struggling for a number of years."

The site dates back to 1930 when it was set up by Lord Nuffield for the War Department before being used as a Royal Navy supply depot.