A NEW children's centre has been given approval to be built on the site of a former children's home.

Darlington Borough Council's planning committee has approved one of its own applications for a Sure Start centre in Salters Lane South, Darlington.

The application site is a disused, former children's home sited opposite the Education Village and near Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Services which are intended to go into the new Sure Start centre are family support including outreach, support for childminders, family health services, employment support to help parents get back to work, information services and play and early learning opportunities.

The plans are to use the current building and add a two-single storey extension to the front and rear of the property.

No objections were made to the plans. However, comments were received from Kingdom Hall about disturbance caused to meetings by noise from the children and concern other possible traffic congestion.

Councillors were told the two buildings would be rarely used at the same time.