CONCERNS have been raised about a proposed new mini mall in Ingleby Barwick.

Representatives from both the Castlegate Centre in Stockton town centre and Coulby Newham District Centre (CNDC) want a series of controls imposed to ensure it doesn't draw trade away from long-established shopping centres.

The plan is to build a 12-unit parade of shops off Myton Way, near the junction with The Rings, to include a convenience store, estate agents, baker, butcher, bookmaker, cafe and restaurant.

The population of Ingleby Barwick is expected to pass 25,000 this year and last year it was announced it would get a new swimming pool and library.

The application will be considered by Stockton Borough Council's planning committee within weeks and if approved, the mini mall could open by autumn.

However, Matthew Williams, a director of Savills solicitors, has written to the council on behalf of Ellandi LLP, the company which owns the Castlegate Centre and CNDC, to ask for restrictions to be imposed.

He said the new parade would be just 2.7 miles south of Stockton town centre and 4.5 miles west of Coulby Newham.

"We understand the rationale for the proposal which is to serve the growing residential community at Ingleby Barwick," he said. "It is on this basis that we do not object to the application.

"We do however wish to ensure that appropriate controls are placed on the development so that it functions as described and cannot be altered in due course to accommodate the types of town centre uses which would ultimately serve to compete with nearby centres such as Stockton and Coulby Newham."

The controls Ellandi want include: a restriction on future subdivision and amalgamation of the shops; a restriction on permitted floorspace, a ban on new mezzanine floorspace and a restriction on the occupation of the new shops until an agreed percentage of new homes are been built and sold.

The application was submitted before Christmas and the applicants have stressed it would greatly benefit Ingleby Barwick.