RESIDENTS were celebrating last night after plans for an out-of-town shopping centre were approved – although the decision has put an end to a rival town centre expansion scheme.

Members of Durham County Council yesterday approved Metric Properties’ plans for six shops at St Helen Auckland, which the company says will create 91 jobs on the outskirts of Bishop Auckland.

Planning officers had recommended the plans be refused due to the possible adverse impact on the town centre, but supporters of the scheme said they were overjoyed that councillors “showed common sense” by approving the plans.

Officers had said town centres should be prioritised for redevelopment and the out-of-town complex would tempt big stores away from the main shopping area.

They argued that plans were afoot to turn the town, with its iconic castle and the Zurbaran paintings, into a top tourist attraction which would be undermined by poor central shopping area.

They said there were two sites – the Newgate Shopping Centre, in Newgate Street, and the former bus station in North Bondgate – which they would have prefered to be developed.

Ravenhill, which owns the Newgate Centre, was drawing up plans for an extension and redevelopment of the bus station, but during yesterday’s meeting its representative said it would end its ambitions if the St Helen development was approved.

Gentoo, which owns the North Bondgate site where planning permission was previously approved for shops and flats, also said it was drawing up plans for new shops that would be affected by approval for the former Focus at St Helen Auckland.

But Richard Wilkes, speaking for the applicants, said he was sceptical about the timing of Ravenhill’s plans and said the St Helen Auckland scheme could be open by next Christmas if approved.

He also announced clothing retailer Next has signed up to the development, but was not interested in moving to any other sites in the town.

Andy Turner, councillor for West Auckland, said the council had already approved a Tesco and Sainsbury’s supermarkets next door and residents in St Helen support the scheme.

David Boyes, councillor for Easington, said he had heard the same debate when Dalton Park was approved, and said there was no evidence it had affected nearby town centres and claimed the shopping centre has become a jewel in the county.

Ravenhill was unavailable for comment at the time of publication.