A £4.5m performing arts and media centre will be built in Hartlepool after councillors gave the go-ahead to the scheme.

The New Life Centre, at St Hild’s C of E School, in King Oswy Drive, Hartlepool, was turned down last month over concerns about the proximity of the building to residential properties and anti-social behaviour in the area.

Headland Development Trust now plans to shift the building 2.5m to the east, further away from residential properties, and fencing has been increased to 3m and hawthorn hedging is proposed for particularly troublesome areas.

At Hartlepool Borough Council’s planning committee meeting today the scheme was granted approval.

Proposals for the New Life Centre include a two-storey building, comprising smaller blocks connected by a central spine.

The centre, aiming at users aged between 13 and 19, would provide opportunities for them to record their music and take part in dance and drama. The facility would also house an IT suite, TV studio and social areas.

Councillor Carl Richardson said: "I fully support this scheme. Even if we did have anti-social behaviour, we should not allow it to dictate where we have theses facilities."

Councillor Geoff Lilley said: "The services this can provide will make a major impact but I can really understand the concerns about the building."

Speaking after the meeting, Mike Young, of the trust, said: "It is the best decision we could have hoped for. We are grateful to the councillors for taking such an objective view about the issues of this scheme.

"We will now go back to the Big Lottery Fund and tell them we have planning permission and things will go from there."

The Headland Development Trust said it hopes to have the centre up and running in September 2010.