PROPOSALS to convert one of North Yorkshire's most historic buildings into a funeral parlour could be resurrected after they were rejected by planners.

Darlington funeral directors Seaton Leng had put forward proposals for Register House, Northallerton, including building an extension to the Grade II listed building.

However, the plans were rejected by Hambleton District Council, amid concerns that they did not respect the character of the building, despite local authority officials recommending that planning permission be granted.

Register House was built in 1736 as the first public administration building in North Yorkshire and it was one of only four in the country that were established by an Act of Parliament of 1735.

It was later converted into a residence and then served as the headquarters of the county's probation service, until its move to new premises in South Parade in 1998, since when it has stood empty.

Now, Seaton Leng managing director Peter Tindale has confirmed that the company had not dropped its interest in the property, which it has agreed to buy from North Yorkshire County Council, subject to being given planning permission.

Mr Tindale said that the application was in the hands of the company's agents, but declined to confirm if new proposals would be drawn up, or an appeal lodged against the original refusal.

But he did confirm that the company was still keen to pursue its plans to convert the building.

Mr Tindale said yesterday: "We have had the support of the planning officers and it is now up to us how we proceed from here. We have put a lot of thought and planning into this and we were rather surprised it was rejected, but it is now in the hands of our advisors."

Northallerton and District Local History Society had looked at the possibility of turning the redundant building into the town's first museum, as well as an arts and culture centre.

However, the society was unable to put together a formal bid for the property in time, after the county council declared it surplus to requirements