A GOVERNMENT inspector has given the go-ahead to plans for one of Northallerton's oldest buildings to be transformed into a funeral parlour.

The decision has brought the long-running saga over the future of 265-year-old Register House, on Zetland Street, to an end.

Funeral directors Seaton Leng, of Darlington, were granted planning permission for the development by Government inspector John Gray, after the firm's proposals were originally turned down by Hambleton District Council.

Register House was built in 1736 as the first public administration building in North Yorkshire - one of only four in the country to be established by an Act of Parliament in 1735. It was later converted into a private house and then served as the headquarters of the county's probation service until its move to new premises in South Parade in 1998. Since then it has stood empty.

In reaching his decision to allow Seaton Leng's appeal, Mr Gray said: "There were objections at the application stage that there was no need for a fourth funeral director in the town, but I have no specific evidence on need or demand.

"I take the view that this is a matter for the appellant's commercial judgement, not a planning consideration that can outweigh the absence of compelling objections to the specific proposals."

Hambleton District Council refused Seaton Leng's plans last year because of fears over the impact of an extension to the historic building, sited in Northallerton's conservation area.

Alan Cowie, of chartered building surveyors Peter Fall Cowie, said yesterday: "What we are trying to do is to bring this building, which is a very important listed building, back into the community.

"We are going to have a scheme for the upgrade and revival of the building and we now want to get on with it and get it done as fast as we can."

Northallerton and District Local History Society had looked at the possibility of turning the redundant building into the town's first museum.

But the group was unable to put together a formal bid for the property in time, after the county council declared it surplus to requirements.