A DANCE school has applied for permission to turn a former nightclub into a performing arts centre.

The Joanne Banks Dancers, currently based in Middlestone Moor, wants to refurbish and extend the old Top Hat, on High Street, Spennymoor.

The proposal would see the club– once a venue which attracted dancers and music fans from across the region– redeveloped to create a ‘family friendly’ venue with dance studios, a cafe, shop and associated facilities.

In a planning application to Durham County Council, the applicant says consultation feedback has been ‘generally very favourable in terms of the proposals and contribution to the local town centre’.

The company wants to refurbish the shop frontage and doors, reinstate bricked-up windows and replace the ground floor escape with glazed doors to let light into the new cafe. The largest studio would replicate Darlington Hippodrome's stage to hold show rehearsals, performances and exams.

The applicant’s agent states: “This prominent high street position is an ideal location for the proposed development which includes a cafe, retail unit and dance studio provision and is intended to capture a range of age groups from early years to retired groups as well as making a significant contribution to enhancing social inclusion and wellbeing.”

Consultation runs until July 17 and a decision is expected to be made by an officer using delegated powers by August 10.