PLANS to demolish a sports hall and health centre in Darlington have been condemned by conservationists.

North-East Property Holdings has applied to Darlington Borough Council for permission to demolish the Archer Street sports hall and a medical centre occupied by the primary care trust.

They would be replaced with a four-storey office block, with 85 car parking spaces.

But Darlington Civic Trust said its members were against the development.

The group said there would be too much car parking space, and unless the developer was willing to allocate spaces for public use, the scheme should be switched to the Morton Palms site.

The trust also said the plans represented a "missed opportunity to restore the historic street pattern in this part of Darlington".

Council planning officers are backing the scheme, subject to several conditions being imposed.

They include an archaeological assessment of the area, which officials say has the potential to increase knowledge of the early medieval settlement of Darlington.

The proposals are due to be considered by borough councillors at a meeting on Wednesday.