INNOVATIVE plans for a £1m community arcade with a grass roof and solar panels have been approved.

The scheme, which has involved months of hard work by the New Shildon Residents' Association, was praised by planning officials, who gave it their support.

Charlie Walton, planning officer for Sedgefield Borough Council, told members of the council's development control committee that the residents' association needed to be praised for all the hard work it had put to into the plans.

He said: "It has taken quite a while to get to this point and trying to identify a possible site. It is a very sustainable building, a very modern building. I think they should be applauded.''

Councillor Frank Timmiss, from Shildon, also welcomed the proposal, saying that the centre was exactly what the people of New Shildon needed.

"I think it's brilliant and it comes at a time when they are looking at building 100 houses in the area," he said.

Chairman of the residents' association, David Snell, said he was delighted the scheme had been approved, but that the hard work was just starting.

"There's been a great demand for the facilities that this arcade is providing. We have had a lot of support from the community and a lot of support from Sedgefield Borough Council," he said.

"We are now looking at different ways of raising the money. It is going to cost around £1m. We are applying for capital funding and will also be looking at applying for Lottery funding. We will have to look at various options."

The association wanted to create a building that was environmentally friendly.

The centre, which will be situated between Maddison Street and Chapel Street, will also have two retail units and facilities that would include doctors and veterinary surgeries, as well as office facilities and a cafe. It will also have a creche and parking facilities.