PLANS to demolish a former social club and replace the landmark building with a major new care home have been given the go-head.

The new 90-bed facility at the gateway to Delves Lane, near Consett, will generate up to 105 full and part-time jobs, Durham county councillors were told.

An area planning committee meeting at County Hall yesterday unanimously endorsed the proposals by Sandhu Investments, after being told parts of the single-storey building, which last housed Delves Lane Community Bar, were beginning to fall into disrepair.

The nursing home will be built in two linked three-storey blocks and comprise individual bedrooms with toilet and shower facilities, nursing stations, communal lounges, dining areas and kitchens and staff rooms .

The facility, which will cater for a broad range of needs, will also have a hairdressers and gym.

A parking scheme, amended during the course of the application, provides for 22 car parking spaces.

Cllr Owen Temple said: “I welcomed the proposal. I think it will be a great enhancement on this corner site.”

Cllr James Corden added: “The building there is well past its sell-by date. I think this care home will be a good community benefit.”

Cllr Barbara Armstrong said the jobs boost was “brilliant”.

Mr Sandhu, who is behind the plans and will take an active part in running the care home, lives and works in the Delves Lane area.

He owns and operates chip shops in Delves Lane and Blackhill, as well as the Mill pub at Knitsley.

Although an experienced businessman, the development represents the first of its type for him.

He sought professional guidance from a leading North-East care consultant.

Mr Sandhu welcomed approval of his plans.

Speaking after the meeting, he said: “We bought the site eight or nine years ago with intention of running it as a club for their community.

“There was a committee but they couldn’t keep it running it, then we got someone private to do it and they went bankrupt.

“The last option was for us to take it on ourselves, but we weren’t interested in keeping it going as a club.”

He added: “We will be covering all aspects of care and will be catering for whatever there is a shortfall for.

“Obviously for us, as a business, we want to get it full.

“There will be different wings to enable it to be operated with flexibility.”