4:41pm Friday 5th February 2010
By Will Roberts
THE transformation of a car showroom into an artists studio and gallery is a step nearer after councillors granted planning permission.
Barnard Castle Vision want to turn the former Dorants garage on Newgate into a space which will act as a focal point for the towns artisan quarter.
At a Durham County Council planning committee meeting yesterday councillors heard how creating the gallery would involve little or no external work while the interior would use moveable partitions to create a flexible display space.
Rooms will also be created to provide studios for artists, film makers and designers. There will also be a caf and an outdoor seating area.
Anne Allen, from Barnard Castle Vision, spoke at the meeting, saying: "We have a very strong creative community in and around Teesdale and through talking with these artists we have discovered that they feel quite isolated working from their own properties.
"The changes we will make to the building are actually pretty minimal.
"It is a matter of retaining the industrial feel of the building but making it a warm and habitable place to work."
Councillors voted unanimously in favour of the planning application.
Supporting the plan, councillor George Reichardson said: "This can only be a good thing for Barnard Castle and the surrounding area."
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