A DEVELOPER pledged last night to work with residents and planners over a proposed apartment complex on a sensitive city centre site.

Eric Clark, managing director of Newton Moor (Dunelm) Development, was speaking after Durham city councillors rejected amended for proposals for the redevelopment of the former city library site in South Street.

Planning approval was granted in last April for 27 apartments in the Aldhun Court development.

The approval was granted on the basis that if further apartments were added to the plans a request would be referred back to the city council's development control committee.

Newton Moor subsequently submitted working drawings to the council, which leaves space within the approved buildings for 30 apartments, with underground parking space for 17 vehicles.

Initial plans included space for up to 21 vehicles under the proposed development.

The city council consulted neighbouring businesses and residents, in the adjoining Dunelm Court apartment complex.

It resulted in eight individual letters of objection, plus one from Dunelm Court Ltd, the property's residents' association, as well as opposition from the City of Durham Trust.

Although parking was not a feature of the original application, it concerned local people that more apartments would lead to more cars parked in the already busy surrounding streets.

Trust honorary secretary Dr Douglas Pocock said if such circumstances spread city-wide it could lead to "a townscape hell of floating cars". He said: "It is hardly reasonable or realistic to expect half of the occupants of this most prestigious site to be non-car owners."

The development control committee refused amended planning approval at its meeting on Wednesday, leaving the ball in Newton Moor's court.

Mr Clark said last night he would be seeking an immediate meeting with planners to iron out any differences.

He said: "It is not my intention and never will be to antagonise neighbours.

"The site manager meets them fortnightly to hear their concerns over site cleanliness, site safety and access."

Mr Clark claimed the proposals were unchanged from the originally-submitted drawings.

But he said: "I now intend to resolve these issues to the satisfaction of the residents and planners."