DETAILED plans for an £80m scheme including a five-star hotel, apartments and a leisure complex at Yarm's Tall Trees were unveiled this week.

Maher Entertainments, owned by Javid Majid, has submitted proposals to redevelop the site to Stockton Borough Council.

The plans include:

* The upgrading and expansion of the hotel, together with new health and leisure facilities, apartment/hotel accommodation and a business and conference centre.

* The demolition of a large part of the current complex, including the Club M night club, to be replaced by 250 apartments.

* A park and ride facility.

Mr Majid also revealed that he was hoping to acquire the adjoining Saltersgill School site, which would be redeveloped for community recreational facilities

It is expected that the whole scheme could take up to ten years to complete, with construction work beginning in January, 2006.

Mr Majid said: "Every national and regional strategy underlines that the North-East needs to be a place which aims for the best. And the only way we can achieve that is by providing the best kind of lifestyle experience.

"My company has a very strong commitment to this area - we have been here for the past 27 years - which is why I am personally so excited that, in putting forward this proposal, we are in a position to make that happen.

"We are confident that there is no other currently developed site within the Tees Valley, possibly within the North-East, which can offer the opportunity for the range and quality of the facilities we want to create at the Tall Trees.

"We are talking about a standard way above anything currently found in the North-East."

He said the apartment areas would include large, landscaped courtyards, attractive gardens and facilities such as tennis courts and secure, supervised facilities for children.

He added: "We believe this project can make a massive difference to the overall economic regeneration of the Tees Valley, but we also believe there is a chance to make a direct contribution which will benefit our neighbouring local community and businesses in Yarm.

"Like everyone else who lives and works in the area, we know that Yarm's single biggest challenge is traffic, especially the parking problems often faced by people visiting the town, whether for work, shopping or leisure.

"That is why we have included a proposal for a park and ride facility, catering for up to 250 vehicles and offering people the chance to park safely and securely and then be ferried the short trip into Yarm High Street.

"It will be a first for the area and we believe that it could be a tremendous benefit for the town, making it even more attractive and bringing in even more customers to local shops and other businesses.

"We also recognise that the expanding population of Yarm urgently needs new community and leisure facilities.

"We are hoping to acquire the Saltersgill School site which runs alongside the Tall Trees and develop it to provide the kind of sporting and recreational facilities which local people themselves decide they would like."

Leaflets explaining the plans will be circulated over the coming weeks and an exhibition outlining the details of the proposals is planned at the Tall Trees