A BUSINESSMAN wants to pull down a derelict pub which stands opposite a flagship development and replace it with new leisure facilities.

Initial Developments Ltd, which is owned by Wayne Baister, of Kirk Merrington, is behind a proposal to demolish the Thinford Inn, near Spennymoor.

His company has applied to Durham County Council for planning permission for the scheme which includes a drive through coffee shop- with Costa already lined up to move in- and a bakery.

It also wants outline consent to build a pub, restaurant, gym and hotel on the 2.1 hectare plot which sits in a prominent site on the Thinford roundabout, close to the DurhamGate leisure, business and residential development.

There are already a number of commercial developments at Thinford including two petrol stations, a Marston’s pub, Starbucks coffee shop, KFC and McDonald’s restaurants, Subway sandwich shop and Spar convenience store.

Agent Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners say the development will attract new businesses to the area, which would not come to the town centre.

They estimate the scheme would create around 141 full-time equivalent jobs as well as employment opportunities such as temporary construction posts and other indirect work- described as attainable for local people and likely to appeal to students and parents.

In January this year English Heritage confirmed the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport had removed the 19th century coaching inn from a list of buildings of special architectural or historic interest.

It was felt that whilst the building has some local heritage interest it is not of national significance and its rural setting has eroded over time due to surrounding developments.

In a statement to the council, the agent said the redevelopment of a dilapidated, vacant site will significantly outweigh its loss given its setting next to such a key site.

They say the scheme would improve a key frontage at a gateway to DurhamGate, Spennymoor and Ferryhill. This was backed up by a resident who wrote to the council and said it ‘can only improve the area, currently the site is an absolute eyesore and will only get worse if not developed’.

The development could also see road alterations in a bid to ease traffic problems, such as the removal of a lay-by which is sometimes used as a rat run between the A167 and A688.

The council expects to make a decision on the application by mid-September.