A REPORT is to outline plans for a family centre next to a disused factory.

Sedgefield Borough Council is hoping to establish a third Sure Start centre at Dean Bank, next to the former Praxis textiles factory.

The Sure Start programme, which supports families with children under four, will meet the cost of the scheme.

The council's cabinet will be asked tomorrow to support proposals for the family centre at Dean Bank.

Councillors will be told that the initial proposal was to establish the centre with a linked supported housing scheme next to Dean Bank Primary School.

That idea was rejected after consultation with local people and an alternative site was sought.

The report says: "It was recognised that the acquisition of the Praxis site by the council would assist to promote the revitalisation of the Dean Bank area overall, as well as, with adjacent land, provide a development site able to accommodate future residential development as well as the Sure Start Family Centre."

The council's offer for the factory site was accepted in principle towards the end of last year, and completion is expected to be resolved by the end of the month.

The centre would be the main office for Sure Start, providing a series of meeting and training rooms.