A REAL ale pub chain is taking a fresh look at plans to convert a Durham office after running into opposition from planners.

J D Wetherspoon has withdrawn its planning application for the empty Cheltenham and Gloucester Building Society in North Road before councillors considered it.

The city council's development control committee was to have been recommended by planning officials to reject the plan because it would entail the loss of the rear yard and outbuildings, changing the character of the conservation area.

Last year, councillors rejected an application by local businessmen to convert and extend the building into a cafe and bar.

The company planned to demolish the outbuilding behind the offices, create a bar on the ground floor, cover the yard, and have an open drinking area under an archway.

Environmental services corporate director Neil Smith said in a report to councillors: "To lose such a yard and outbuildings would be to lose key elements of North Road's historic character."

Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: "We are still very keen to develop this site as a pub.

"We have been in discussion with the council and they made it very clear that the plans we were going to submit were not acceptable. We gone to a specialist in conservation areas and shown him our scheme. He is writing a report on it that we are awaiting.

"We will use the findings to either put in a new planning application or say to the council that our current plan is the only way we can do it. If they don't accept it we may have to pull the plug ."

Last year, J D Wetherspoon was refused permission to convert the Palladium cinema in Claypath because of fears over the impact on the area.