YOUNGSTERS in Teesdale could benefit from new £500,000 facilities if plans are given the go-ahead.

Plans were submitted this week to Teesdale District Council for youth facilities in the Sports Centre Grounds in Strathmore Road, Barnard Castle.

The facilities will replace the youth and community centre at Teesdale Community Resources (TCR), in Birch Road, and the cost of the new building would be part-funded by the sale of this site.

The centre would contain four dormitories sleeping 20 people, dance and performance rehearsal space, offices, a lounge/dining room, kitchen, a music studio, a soundproof live room, WC and showers and garage space.

Keith Jones, education in the community worker for TCR, said the plans had been developed in consultation with young people and in response to what they wanted.

However, he said the TCR facilities would not solely be used by young people.

There are plans to house Barnard Castle Band in the centre and many of the transport facilities operated by TCR were used by elderly people in the dale.

Mr Jones said: "This represents the final piece in the jigsaw, after the skatepark and the coffee shop, which we hope to open by the establishment of the YMCA.

Mr Jones hopes the sale of the land will also be of some benefit to young people.

He said: "One of the big issues for young people is affordable housing and if all goes to plan, ten units of social housing would be built on the site.