PLANS to revive a music centre in Darlington have been endorsed by councillors this week.

Businessman David Cox was granted planning permission to turn the disused centre on the corner of Borough Road and Brunswick Street into a live entertainment venue, with recording studios, rehearsal rooms and a caf bar and lounge.

The building, a former school, dates from 1871, and was last used four years ago by schools in County Durham for rehearsals.

The cabinet at Darlington Borough Council has agreed to lease the council-owned property for ten years.

Despite seven letters of objection from residents, mainly about possible noise from the building, the planning committee agreed unanimously with planning officer Adrian Miller's recommendation that permission for the centre should be granted.

He said fears about noise should be overcome by soundproofing.

The centre is expected to create ten full-time and 15 part-time jobs.