PLANS to build flats on a former car park overlooking Durham Cathedral look set to win approval despite objections.

Local businessman Robert Fulton wants planning permission for six flats on land in South Street, next to St Margaret's Church, which is a Grade-I Listed Building.

The new homes will have views across the River Wear to the Cathedral and Castle world heritage site.

Durham City Council's development control committee will be recommended today to approve the plan despite objections from 15 residents and the City of Durham Trust.

They are concerned about the development's impact on St Margaret's Church, loss of views across the river, the extra traffic that will be generated and the loss of trees on the site.

Similar concerns have been raised by St Margaret's Parochial Church Council, and the City of Durham Trust says the scheme does nothing to conserve or enhance the character and appearance of the conservation area.

Environmental services corporate director Neil Smith said in a report to councillors: "English Heritage has been consulted over the various amendments made to the proposed scheme. They are not satisfied with the current design and suggest the careful control of materials and joinery details for the scheme.

"English heritage also point out that the site was historically known as The Curtain and they suggest that this name could be resurrected by the developer."

Mr Smith said the developer has tried to "replicate the form of development that would have originally been built on the site.

"This took the form of a relatively low huddle of buildings that sat below the east end of St Margaret's Church and did not mask this important view."

A condition of the permission will be that archaeological work be carried out first.