THE multi-million pound redevelopment of a former food factory has passed its first planning hurdle.

Councillors have approved an outline application to create a trade park at Kerry Foods, Dragon Lane, on the Dragonville Industrial Estate, Durham City.

Kerry Foods, the city’s third biggest private sector employer, closed in July 2012 with the loss of 350 jobs.

The £10m plan by local developer Angel Developments could provide 104 construction jobs and 283 jobs in the finished article.

It will consist of a McDonald’s drive-through restaurant , trade warehouses and showrooms. Negotiations with Kwik-Fit are at an advanced stage.

Workwear Express, run by Angel Developments boss Andrew Ward, could move to the development from the Belmont Industrial Estate.

Much of the site has been cleared but a remaining building would be incorporated in the scheme.

Durham County Council’s county planning committee unanimously approved the outline planning application yesterday (Tuesday, March 3).

Angel Developments will seek detailed permission later.

Councillors heard that there were concerns about increased traffic on already busy roads in the east of the city.

Belmont Parish Council backs the scheme but told the county council it feared local roads were at saturation point and that drivers were increasingly using the High Grange Estate as a rat run.

One resident objector said there would be more queuing at junctions and delays to buses.

The City of Durham Trust objected, also raising the traffic issue and concern that the development “would be partly at the expense of the city centre and local shopping centres”.

Sustainable transport charity Sustrans also objected to the plan over the quality of cycling facilities in the area and Tile Giant, a neighbour of the Kerry site, raised concern about the impact of proposed access points.

Case planning officer Peter Herbert said there would be a 106 Agreement for a contribution to the relief road proposed between Damson Way and McIntyre Way and to the council’s targeted training scheme.

He said the development was sustainable, was bringing an economic and was not considered a threat to the city centre.

Local councillor Patrick Conway said he backed the plan but wanted a comprehensive policy on roads in the east of the city.

Highways Development Officer John McGargill said that in the long term the proposed relief road would help the area’s traffic problems.