INITIAL plans for a big environmental improvement scheme on a Ferryhill estate are being finalised this week.

The Dean Bank Gateway project follows the success of a similar scheme in nearby Ferryhill Station which is almost complete.

It will involve planting, paving, introducing street furniture and developing community projects along the Dean Bank corridor.

A forum made up of community groups and organisations has already helped to formulate a draft plan.

Groundwork East Durham will present the plan to Sedgefield Borough Council next Tuesday, after which it will go out to public consultation.

Andy Coulthard, regeneration officer for Sedgefield Borough Council, said: "The general feeling at the moment is to have an Art Nouveau theme.

"A lot of buildings in Dean Bank have an Art Nouveau look and we will be trying to run with that theme throughout the area."

The project will include a number of sites, including the Baptist church, Dean Bank Institute, land next to allotments, the Durham Aged Miners Bungalows and Ferryhill Comprehensive School.

The project in Ferryhill Station includes a new mini-roundabout, upgrading of pavements and bus shelters and improving shop frontages

Mr Coulthard said: "The feedback we have had from Ferryhill Station has been very positive and that scheme seems to be going along quite nicely."

Jamie Corrigan, of the Ferryhill Community Partnership, said: "They have looked at the success of Ferryhill Station and hope the environmental improvements in Dean Bank can be just as good.

"Everyone feels Ferryhill Station has been a resounding success, even thought it is not finished yet, and there are areas identified for improvement that have notbeen done yet.

"The new scheme is looking at the main corridor through Dean Bank, starting at the Black Bull pub in the town centre, going across the bridge and coming out at the comprehensive school."

The project is not to be confused with the Dean Bank housing masterplan, which is also due to go out to consultation soon.

That scheme is designed to improve the housing stock on the estate, which could include a demolition and rebuilding programme taking place over 20 years