A FOUR-DAY public inquiry which will decide the future of a derelict corner of Durham City opened yesterday.

A local development company was granted planning permission to create a large retail park, including a B&Q store, on a site in the Dragonville area, by Rennys Lane and Sunderland Road.

But Dragonville Development Ltd (DDL) later decided to amend its application to allow for better access roads.

The new submission was welcomed by Durham City Council which also received a second application from Alexage, for another retail park on a neighbouring site between Dragon Lane and Damson Way.

This was followed by a third retail park application, also on a site in Dragon Lane, by Sunniside Properties and Mono Containers.

Although the city council had already approved the new DDL proposal and had given its initial backing to the Alexage submission, it has expressed some concerns over the Sunniside bid.

Before the Sunniside application could be submitted to the city council's planning committee, Government planning guidelines relating to out-of-town retail developments were altered resulting in all of the Dragonville proposals being called in by the Deputy Prime Minister's office.

And yesterday Government Planning Inspector Andrew Freeman opened a public inquiry.

Before listening to submissions by barristers representing all three companies, Mr Freeman said he had received letters from Durham's MP Gerry Steinberg supporting the DDL proposal.

The applicants will now call expert evidence to show that the bids comply with national regional and local planning policies as well as with highway conditions.

Durham County Council is worried about traffic in relation to the Sunniside application. But the developments have been generally welcomed as a way to breathe new life into the neglected eastern corner of Durham.

The hearing is expected to finish on Friday. Visits to each site are planned for next week.