PLANNING officers have granted approval for the change of use of a former community centre to create a guest house.

Proposals for the Peterlee Community Association, The White House, in Eden Lane Peterlee, include accommodation soley for the person employed for the purpose of security or the maintenance.

The White House is a former community building dating from 1890, set within its own relatively large grounds with numerous mature trees subject to tree preservation orders.

Planning officers note the building has fallen into disuse for some time and has been subject to vandalism. There were proposals in 2014 to demolish the building but this did not go ahead.

With the building in new ownership, it is proposed to convert the existing building into a six-bed guest house, with the northern part of the building set aside as a separate residential dwelling for a site manager.

The proposals are considered to provide significant benefits, in terms of bringing back into use a local historic building, as well as contributing to the local economy through attracting visitors to the area.

A report says, while Peterlee may not be an obvious location for visitors, it is less than half a mile from the Heritage Coast, with public footpaths close to the application site leading to the coastal area.

A condition has been applied limiting the use of the function rooms within the building to use by people who are staying at the guest house. As is standard with holiday accommodation, a condition limits occupation of the guest rooms to no more than eight weeks in any year.