PLANS to build a £1m sports facility are one step closer after a town council commissioned a feasibility study into the project.

Ferryhill Town Council has appointed Steve Wells Consultants, who will look at the possibility of building the facility.

Current proposals include the creation of a floodlit multi-use games area for a variety of sports, six football pitches, changing rooms and a youth cafe.

Steven Wells has completed 17 similar projects to the Ferryhill one over the past few years and the decision to use the firm is one that the project advisory group agreed upon unanimously.

The decision was rubber stamped at a meeting of Ferryhill Town Council on Wednesday night.

Executive officer Jamie Corrigan said: "The timetable for completion of the feasibility study is the end of November.

"However, all parties acknowledged it may take a little longer to get full planning permission, which is required before our Football Foundation bid can be submitted.

"It was emphasised by the FA (Football Association) rep that we met that this is not a problem.

"Our bid does not have to be with the FA by the end of the year, and early next year will be fine."

A bid is also being submitted at the end of November to Sedgefield Borough Council's Local Improvement Programme for funding.

Following the appointment of the consultants, a motion to "review the regeneration of Dean Bank Park and form a sub-committee to progress as necessary" was deferred.

The motion was put forward by Ferryhill town councillors Paul Mountford, Kevin Storey and Dave Farry, but it was agreed that details of the sports facility would need to be finalised first.

The sports facility was chosen by residents of Ferryhill during a town survey sent out to householders last year.

It asked for opinions on a number of issues facing residents, including allotment provision, policing, town centre toilets and the sports facility.

An advisory group is overseeing the sports centre project and is made up of Rita and Dave Foster, from Ferryhill Town Youth, Councillor Eileen Martin, portfolio holder for Dean Bank Park, Jamie Corrigan, Phil Woodward, from Durham Football Association, and Andrew Megginson, from Sedgefield Borough Council's regeneration department.