A PLAN to turn a shop in a Teesdale market town into offices is expected to be approved.

Barnard Castle Town Council has requested that the change-of-use application at 47 and 47A The Bank, Barnard Castle, is refused.

However, planning officers at Teesdale District Council have recommended the application is given permission.

The Bank is designated in the Teesdale Local Plan as being within the main shopping area of the town.

The application is to change the use at 47 and 47A from a mixture of residential and retail use to professional service use.

However, the town council has said it does not wish to see a reduction in the number of retail units in the town.

Planning officer Andrew Bishop has said the council refused a similar application in the Market Place, and the decision was subsequently overturned at a planning appeal.

Mr Bishop advises councillors: "The Government in its planning advice acknowledges that the public also expects to find financial and professional services within town centres.

"Although this proposal would represent a loss of retail space in the town centre, it is a smaller unit on the periphery and would have little impact on the retail significance of the town."

Teesdale District Council's Planning Committee is meeting to discuss the application on Wednesday at 5.30pm in the council chamber at Teesdale House, Galgate, Barnard Castle.

* An application to convert the former doctor's surgery at Gainford into a tearoom is also due to be discussed at the meeting.