Hotel approved at derelict town centre site

The empty Queens Head, Postchaise and Monaco buildings will be flattened

Derelict buildings will be demolished to make way for a new town centre hotel.

Reform-led Durham County Council approved plans for the 59-bed hotel in Bishop Auckland Market Place as part of a major redevelopment.

Planning committee members warned that the former pub buildings had been vacant for several years and were in a dilapidated and deteriorating state, which could attract anti-social behaviour and vandalism.

More than £3m was pledged towards the proposal, which forms part of wider investment plans to redevelop the town centre, including improvements to Newgate Street and a new Kingsway Square site.

The Auckland Project, a regeneration charity and applicant for the scheme, said the hotel would contribute an additional £4.7m to the local economy each year.

Plans also included a new bar and restaurant as well as several parking spaces, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The applicant said the hotel would also create 30 jobs and 65 construction jobs during development.

Independent councillor Anita Savory said it would "revitalise the area".

"It will boost tourism and the economy, it will help to support local businesses, it will create jobs which are vitally important."