A DEVELOPER is to be urged to increase the size of flats planned for the centre of Consett.

Sterling Developments wants to revamp a prominent building in Trafalgar Street, near the town’s bus station.

The company wants to convert the upstairs from commercial space into 12 dwellings and divide the three shops on the ground floor into nine.

Durham County Council economic development officials welcomed the plan as a boost to the town centre and its economy.

But councillors deferred a decision on the planning application to ask the company to make the flats bigger.

The northern area planning committee was recommended to grant approval.

The council’s community economic development officer said the scheme would help further the aims of the Consett Town Centre Masterplan and bring in investment.

There were no objections from residents or outside statutory bodies to the plan and planning officials said it was \"acceptable and appropriate”.

But councillors raised concerns about the size of the flats, the lack of any storage space for waste bins and the lack of parking provision, which would mean occupants of the scheme having to use the back street.

Source: TheNorthernEcho