WORRIED residents say five new apartment blocks planned for the site of a soon-to-close community hospital would tower over their homes.

Developers hope to build five three-storey blocks of flats on the site of the Chester-le-Street General Hospital.

With 39 two-bedroom flats in total, 55 car parking spaces and landscaped gardens including a children's play area, the project is seen by many as a prestige development in the south end of Chester-le-Street town centre.

But residents in nearby streets, including Salisbury Avenue, Relton Terrace, Thomas Street, Lynn Street and Ernest Terrace, believe the blocks would dominate the surrounding area.

Responding to a consultation exercise by the planning authority, Chester-le-Street District Council, many nearby householders say the apartments would overlook their homes and destroy their privacy.

Despite these concerns and others - including worries about increased traffic - the council planners have recommended that the detailed proposals be approved, with ten conditions, at a meeting of the planning and licensing committee today.

A report to the committee stresses that, in planning terms alone, the proposed flats could only improve the town.

It says: "The development in this part of the site, in close proximity to the East Coast main line, is considered important because it contributes to the image of the district as a whole.

"It would enhance the appearance of the town and district, while re-using and improving an area of land that has remained essentially unused since the demolition of the former hospital wards six years ago."

It adds that an equipped children's play area and a commissioned artwork will act as a focal point for the public.

The flats would be part of a multi-million pound facelift for Chester-le-Street town centre over the coming year.

As well as the planned £12m Tesco superstore in the South Burns area, the council has rubber-stamped a proposed new community hospital.

Last month, two of the final hurdles to the construction of Tesco were cleared when councillors approved a highway stopping-up order that will block part of South Burns and informal footpaths crisis-crossing the area.