A five-storey mill building which has been causing arguments and protests for more than 30 years looks likely to have its future decided today.

A plan to convert Thorngate Mill, in Barnard Castle, into 16 flats is to go before members of Teesdale District Council.

Planning officer Trevor Watson has recommended the scheme by the Building Renaissance Company and altered several times, be approved.

The company has said they will be high quality apartments giving spectacular views along the river.

Car parking, which was one of the biggest problems, will be created by erecting decking with spaces for 16 vehicles along the riverbank.

One idea had been to create a car park in the mill basement, but experts said it would be too risky because it contains pillars that support the building. If a vehicle were to crash into one the building could collapse.

The mill stood empty for years before parts of it were used in turn as a leather goods factory and furniture restoring workshop.

It then became a book sale warehouse but had to be closed because planning consent could not be obtained, mainly because of the lack of a parking area.

In a report to councillors Mr Watson says: "This is a realistic opportunity to achieve the long awaited development and restoration of this important listed building."

He agreed it would have been better to provide enough parking spaces without the need for decking but this had proved impossible.

He had been in long negotiations to reach a proposal which could be approved.

There have been protests by residents about the danger of slates and other debris falling from the building.