PLANS for a temporary portable cabin to provide two consulting rooms behind a doctor's surgery have been approved by councillors.

Chester-le-Street District Council's planning committee gave the go-ahead to proposals for the building at Middle Chare Surgery, in Middle Chare.

The building will also provide space for a phlebotomists' room, used for taking blood samples.

A previous application had proposed a single-storey extension, which had been enhanced to fit in with the town centre conservation area.

But the potential presence of archaeological remains in the vicinity led to the withdrawal of the application to investigate alternate schemes involving less disturbance.

The proposed portable building will be linked to the surgery by a walkway.

A report to the committee said there were concerns that the structure could have an impact on the conservation area and that granting temporary approval could lead to pressure to keep the building for a longer period.

It was, therefore, suggested that the applicant carry out archaeological survey at an early stage to allow a permanent extension to be designed, which would meet the requirements of the practice.

Planning committee councillors agreed to the recommendation that permission be given for three years.