PLANS have been submitted to Darlington Borough Council to create office space at Teesside Airport.

The proposals include alterations and an extension to main building to create office space; new office entrance with ramped access; part demolition of western corner to facilitate extension to west elevation; cladding, roof lights and other associated works.

A design and access statement prepared on behalf of the airport by Corstorphine and Wright details the plans.

Read more: Teesside Airport responds after Middlesbrough Council gaffe on Twitter

It reads: "The existing building has gone through extensive internal refurbishment recently to secure its ongoing usage as an international airport.

"Whilst almost all of the passenger areas are completed there are areas of the existing terminal building that await investment and development, and are currently sat vacant.

"The vehicular access to the site will remain unchanged with vehicles travelling from the A67 roundabout and down St Georges Way to the car park entrance barriers and drop-off zone.

"The building historically was in use as an international airport and had a large restaurant area, with large kitchen and WC facilities that has laid vacant and unused since circa 2013.

"From the airport becoming privately used around 2013 to 2019 this space was unused and until recently was used as storage.

"This space forms approximately 75 per cent of the new office proposal, and has been stripped of its current internal fixtures and fittings ready to be re purposed with a new use.

"The proposal is to demolish some elements of the existing structure to make a clean abutment for the new extension along the structural grid.

"The existing structural grid has influenced the layout in the refurbished area with open plan and private offices, WC and kitchen facilities, whilst the extension with three facades will house the new entrance facing the main car park on the north elevation, large conference facility and open plan offices facing west over the drop off car park.

"Noise levels affecting the proposed development from aircraft have been measured. The façade sound insulation design is considered with windows closed to reduce the calculated noise impact to below the criteria advised within guidance from the British Council for Offices.

"The most significant noise source affecting the proposed development was from various aircraft at the airport."

Officials say Tees Valley Combined Authority, currently based at Cavendish House in Stockton, will temporarily move into the new office space, with a view to permanently relocating to Darlington to join Government’s departments, including the Treasury, that are moving senior civil servants to the Darlington Economic Campus.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “Our airport is a fantastic asset and provides people from across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool with quick and easy access to holiday destinations, and worldwide connectivity via London Heathrow and Amsterdam Schiphol, and that’s something we’ll never lose sight of.

“But it is an asset that is much bigger than just a terminal building and runway. It’s location, accessibility, and the hundreds of acres for business and commercial development as part of Teesside Freeport are unrivalled. That’s why we’re kicking on, putting plans in to action and ensuring that we maximise those non-aviation-based opportunities.

“This small first step will, in the short term, not only save the Combined Authority thousands of pounds, but also provides rental income for the airport. Income streams that will grow bigger and bigger as we develop both the Northside and Southside of the site as even more new businesses begin to call it home.

“The development of the airport’s land and property will be a key driver in it returning to profit within three years and will support our wider plan. Additionally, its new freight facility will provide another valuable income stream, playing a strategic role as part of the Teesside Freeport and crucially create more good-quality, well-paid jobs for people across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool.”

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated County Durham Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054