Plans to turn a former County Durham pet store into flats have been given the go-ahead by Durham County Council.

The proposal outlines the transformation of 34 Hope Street, Crook, once a pet shop, into a two-bedroom flat.

The change comes under Class MA, a regulation in planning law permitting changes in use.

A council report considered several national and local policies including those for sustainable development, transport, housing supply and preservation of the historic environment.

The building is located in a conservation area, which denotes certain rules for protecting the area's character, although no local opposition to the plans has been noted.

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Key stakeholders such as the Highway Authority or Environmental Health raised no objections, under the proviso that noises and contamination matters are addressed.

Transport considerations concluded that despite the absence of a parking facility, the venue's vicinity to public transport makes it sustainable.

Concerns regarding noise from neighbouring commercial properties were raised; however, the verdict was that soundproofing could efficiently tackle the issue.

The final design provides sufficient natural light for residential spaces, and no significant concerns around environmental risks were raised.

For the flat conversion to progress, it must meet specific conditions, such as soundproofing efforts and additional provisions for waste and cycle storage.