THE plans for new council headquarters have been formally submitted.

Durham County Council wants to move from Aykley Heads to a brand new building at The Sands car park, in Durham city centre.

It has now submitted a planning application for the five story building, which would be next to the new passport office in Freeman’s Place, and would have around 1,000 members of staff working there.

If approved, the new facilities will include a council chamber, committee rooms, office space for councillors and staff, a cafe, public reception area and 60 parking spaces.

Plans for a multi-storey carpark on nearby land, next to Durham Sixth Form, with 277 spaces, have also been submitted.

Details of the plans, first announced in January, were revealed last month and have already attracted a number of objections from members of the public about the proposed location and design of the building.

To view the plans visit www.durham.gov.uk.