A CHURCH and Inland Revenue building are targeted for demolition to allow a second large store in Darlington's £45m Commercial Street shopping centre.

Planners are recommending that Darlington Borough Council planning committee allow the former United Reformed Church in Union Street to be pulled down in amended outline plans submitted for the shopping centre.

But the Secretary of State for the Environment will have the final say in whether the altered scheme can go ahead

Developer, St Martin's Property Investments, has applied to the council to expand the original approved plans to incorporate land owned by the church.

A report to Wednesday's committee says St Martin's has assessed of the architectural and historic value of the former church and school, weighing it against the benefit of the centre to the town.

It concluded the fact the church was unlisted was a reflection of its modest architectural quality. The building was already surrounded by twentieth century developments that had destroyed its setting.

Fisher Carpets, which occupies the church, has objected unless a deal could be struck with St Martin's to secure its business, which has been based in the church since 1982.

Officers say the development cannot go ahead unless agreement is reached on the demolition of Regent House, for which the Inland Revenue says there is no demonstrable need.

* A multi-storey car park for 800 cars to the north of St Augustine's Way, linked to the Queen Street scheme, has brought a flood of objections centring on noise and pollution, from residents, the Bangladeshi Welfare Association and Friends of North Lodge Par. They say the car park will intrude and dominate.