A VICTORIAN school building is to be converted into flats after councillors unanimously voted to grant planning permission for the scheme.

Yorkshire-based property developer John Lamb has been given the go-ahead to develop the Board School building in Stanley into 25 flats.

The landmark building, which dates back to 1891 and was more recently used as a Return To Learn education centre, stands in the town’s Front Street, but has been boarded up for the last few years.

In June, the building was subject to an arson attack and members of Durham County Council’s Area Planning Committee (North) heard that there had been further reports of “low-key vandalism” earlier this week.

Permission was granted to convert the building into 17 one-bed flats and eight two-bed flats, with a 30-space car park and bin storage area behind, separated from Beamish Street by automated gates to reserve the car park for users of the flats and up to five visitors.

Two residents submitted objections over potential parking issues, while Kenneth Osbourne-Grant, of The Osbourne Conservation Trust, addressed Thursday’s meeting at County Hall to call for the building to be used as a library for the town.

However, members of the committee broadly welcomed the development, although concerns were raised over the mix of flat types and the amount of affordable housing.

In a letter submitted to the committee, division member Cllr Joyce Charlton said: “I don’t in principle object to the development, but I had hoped a much greater proportion of the accommodation would be two-bedroom.”

Committee member Cllr Alan Shield said: “Stanley Front Street is in need of refurbishment and an upgrade and that area has been a blight for some years. I support the application in principle, but I share some concerns with Cllr Charlton about the balance.”

Stanley member and committee chairman Cllr Carl Marshall welcomed the application.

He said: “I am delighted to see this application come forward.

“We have been blighted in the town with a series of fires and anti-social behaviour issues and I think this is a development which the people of Stanley have been waiting for.

“It will help to improve the local economy and help to improve footfall in the town centre.”

The committee voted 8-0 to grant planning permission, subject to a number of conditions.