PLANS to transform a rundown North-East industrial site into a new business, shopping and living area are to be unveiled.

Stockton Borough Council is drawing up guidelines for the development of the Boathouse Lane area of the town, near the High Street.

The prime waterfront location, between the River Tees, A66 and Bridge Road, is underused and is largely made up of waste land and empty buildings.

Planners envisage an attractive landscaped area that could feature a hotel, small shop units, living accommodation, gardens, and riverside walks.

Neil Cole, the council's development plans manager, said the authority believed developers were interested in the 27-acre site, and the guidelines would ensure all future developments were alike.

He said: "With it being along a key gateway into Stockton town centre, the Boathouse Lane site is one that is possibly a significant redevelopment opportunity.

"There have not been any planning applications submitted yet, but we believe there may be some interest in the future. We are trying to pre-empt them by providing a guideline on how we want the area to develop, either as a whole, or piecemeal.

"If applications come forward on an ad hoc basis, you can get a bitty finish and we want to avoid that. We are not saying what sorts of developments we would like, but are trying to ensure that they all follow a certain pattern."

However, the council has ruled out another supermarket development for the site.

Mr Cole said: "Ancillary shops might be appropriate, but we do not want a big supermarket.

"It could be a variety of things, including hotels, residential accommodation, offices and retail.

"There will be good landscaping and we will be considering whether there is a need for affordable housing.

"From the A66, you see a little industrial area and it is not especially inviting. To my mind, it is not giving off the image we want to portray for the borough as a whole.

"It is a key development opportunity and I think developers might well snap it up."

The plans will be discussed by the council on Thursday. If backed, public consultation will then take place.