Plans to extend a Darlington specialist hospital with a bespoke staff room and canteen have been approved by the council.

The green light was given to Cygnet Health Care Ltd for the development at St William's Residential Home on Cornwall Avenue.

The new structure, which will be located at the rear of the care home, will provide a space for staff members to use during breaks.

The building will be made of timber, measuring 2.7m wide, 4.5m long, and 2.5m high, and will be situated on an existing hardstanding area.

The council received an objection from a nearby resident, who expressed concerns over existing parking issues caused by staff and delivery vehicles, as well as noise from night-time activities. However, the council decided that a staff room would not result in additional staff or parking needs.

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The planning officer's report stated: "The building is a simple, modular design that can be assembled or disassembled quickly.

"It will be enclosed by existing fences and walls, so it will have minimal visual impact on the street scene."

The report also noted that the proposal would not increase the number of staff and that the building is intended for temporary use as a staff room.

As such, it was considered that there would be no significant impact on the amenity of neighbouring properties.

The new staff room will not reduce the existing parking spaces and will not result in increased traffic or parking demand.

The development will have no impact on biodiversity, as the structure will be built on an area of hardstanding.

Grade II listed St William's RC Church, which lies to the west of the site, will not be adversely impacted by the development, according to a heritage statement.

The statement concluded that the proposal would have a neutral impact on the heritage asset.

Small in scale, domestic in design, and set within its own site, the staff room site will not detract from the significance of the church or its setting according to planning documents.

The development must begin within three years from the date of the permission and must stick to approved plans.