PLANS to turn a former car showroom into a flooring shop next to a proposed cinema complex have been submitted.

The showroom at Tindale in Bishop Auckland has been empty since August when Ford dealer Holiways went into administration.

Now Create City Ltd, who run several flooring shops including Maguire’s Carpets and Franks have applied to Durham County Council for permission to change the use of the site to sell bulky goods.

The empty showroom sits opposite Tindale Towers, a multi-million pound art-deco mansion built several years ago by a local businessman, and is just along the road from a new retail centre at St Helen Auckland.

In their application, England and Lyle, who are acting as agents for Create City, said the showroom had been advertised for car sales but there had been no interest.

Create City plan to move one of their tenants currently operating in Shildon to the showroom to sell floor tiles and stone flooring.

The showroom sits beside the A688 and there has been a surge in shops opening in the area in the past two years.

Plans for a £40m cinema complex with shops, restaurants and a bowling alley on wasteland next door are due to be submitted to Durham County Council today.