A NORTH-East university has been given permission to go ahead with plans for a new building to allow two of its departments to expand.

Members of a Durham County Council planning committee unanimously approved proposals to build a new mathematics and computer science department at Durham University’s upper Mountjoy site in the city.

Councillor Alan Shield said: “I don’t see how we can possibly even considering not supporting it. It will enhance Durham University regionally, nationally and internationally.”

Cllr John Clare added: “This is a top 100 in the world university. It’s absolutely essential we allow it to grow and develop in order to take on the rest of the world. This looks like it’s going to do that fantastically.”

Questions were raised about plans to improve the crossings on South Road to cater for the extra students using the centre.

Dave Wafer, the council’s strategic traffic manager, told the committee the university was funding a scheme to move existing crossings while the council was also making changes at the New Inn junction.

Patrick Hussey, a pro-vice chancellor at the university, told members the departments were operating at capacity.

The building will also include an enterprise hub to provide a space for students to experiment with business ideas, with a focus on technology.

Work is expected to start in November and the university hopes it will be ready for the 2020 academic year.

The development is part of the university’s ten-year strategy, which has proved controversial among many city residents.