Plans to convert a County Durham Irish bar into a restaurant with flats above it have been approved by the council.

Former Irish bar Finnian’s in Consett will see its ground floor transformed into a restaurant while the first floor will be remodelled to create three one-bedroom flats.

The external changes include adding a new door at the back for access to a bin storage area.

A new restaurant on the site will operate from 8am to 11pm on weekdays and 8am to 1am on Saturdays.

Despite concerns initially raised by environmental health officers regarding potential noise and odour conflicts between the restaurant and flats, these objections were addressed with conditions requiring noise impact assessments and soundproofing measures.

The proposal supports sustainable development goals under the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), with the creation of new housing units and enhancements to the area's appearance.

The plan also aligns with County Durham Plan Policies, which support development on unallocated sites, maximising efficiency by using brownfield land.

The transformation of the ground floor into a restaurant is seen as a contribution to the town centre's vitality, particularly the evening economy.

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Durham County Council received no objections or comments from the public during the consultation period.

The planning permission, granted on Monday comes with several conditions.

A noise impact assessment must be conducted to ensure that noise levels from the restaurant and nearby commercial operations do not disturb the residential units on the first floor.

A soundproofing scheme must be implemented to reduce noise transfer between the flats and the restaurant.

The developer must also submit detailed plans for a fume extraction system, including noise and odour control measures, to avoid disturbing the residential units and surrounding properties.

Highways raised no objections to the proposal, noting the town centre location and proximity to public transport, which reduces the need for personal vehicles.

The development is exempt from providing a Biodiversity Net Gain plan due to its size and lack of impact on priority habitats.