A PLAN to redevelop a historic part of Hartlepool to create a restaurant, bistro and shops may be expanded.

Hartlepool Borough Council is working on plans for the complex, which could be built on a site next to Kafiga Landings beside the Old Headland Fish Quay.

The project could become larger with the addition of apartments above the restaurant, bistro and shops.

The idea to enlarge the original restaurant project developed during discussions with the site's owners, the Tees and Hartlepool Port Authority.

Stuart Green, the council's head of planning and economic development said: "There is clearly great potential for an even more exciting development of the site.

"Creating apartments above the restaurant and shops would certainly take more advantage of the waterfront location.

"Such a development would be designed in scale with the existing buildings surrounding the site.

"The inclusion of apartments in the plan could also attract investment from a private developer."

The project is still in the development stage and depends on money from the Government's Single Programme cash pool.

If the plans do become a reality, the council would build the complex, possibly in partnership with a private developer, supported by Single Programme funding.

Once the complex is completed and open, the restaurant, bistro and shops would then be sold to the private sector.

Tim White, the director of planning and regeneration at the council, said: "This is a tremendously exciting proposal, not only for Hartle- pool but for the wider area as well."

Initial research has shown that such a plan would be viable and could be a major boost to the regeneration of the Headland and to the overall economy in the town.

A national competition may be held to find a chef of sufficient quality to run the restaurant and bistro with the prize possibly being to run the restaurant and bistro for a rent-free period for up to five years.

The new outline proposals will be considered by Councillor Moss Boddy, cabinet member with special responsibility for regeneration and economy at a meeting next Thursday.