PLANS to demolish a specialist village hospital and replace it with a new 72-bed psychiatric unit have been supported by councillors.

Affinity Healthcare applied to Darlington Borough Council for permission to create the complex on the site presently occupied by Middleton St George Hospital.

And planning committee members approved the development when they met yesterday.

Under the proposals, three single-storey psychiatric units and a fourth building, providing a sports hall, gymnasium and caf, will be created.

Affinity Healthcare said the present facilities fell below the standards required "to provide the best quality of long-term care for the elderly".

The firm was also granted permission for the vacant Maple Lodge care home to be demolished. An 84-bed residential home will be built in its place.

Councillors heard that a high standard of sound insulation would be included in the buildings, to offset any increase in noise arising from the expansion of nearby Durham Tees Valley Airport.

Council leader John Williams called for an extra condition, regarding the trees to be planted on the site, to be attached to the planning permission to deal with the airport's concerns about bird strikes.

"I wonder if it's possible to make sure the type of trees put in are not the type to encourage birds," he said.

"It's very important that we do nothing to compromise passenger safety."