A LONG-AWAITED Tall Ships Centre could be finished by Christmas, now that final planning permission has been granted.

At a council planning and licensing panel meeting yesterday, marina developer Mandale Properties was given permission to build 58 new flats and a number ofshop on land near Middleton Road, in Hartlepool. The Company was also given the go-ahead to move the Tall Ships Centre from the west harbour on to land behind its Navigation site.

A decision on the project was deferred at last month's meeting, after members decided to conduct a site visit first.

Now, with some minor alterations, the plans have been approved.

A spokesman for Mandale Properties said this permission meant work on the centre could now be completed and it could be open by the New Year.

He said: "The building work has been ongoing and this permission was to do with the realigning of the building.

"This now gives us a chance to complete the work and we expect it to be completed by Christmas."

The flats and shops will help the regeneration of the marina area of Hartlepool, with the Tall Ships Centre proving a tourist attraction.

Plans for the centre have sailed in troubled waters ever since Mandale Properties announced the development was coming to town.

In the past, the centre has been described as a white elephant, and Mandale Properties' commitment to the project had been questioned.

The centre was initially expected to cost £40m, and attract hundreds of jobs and tourists to Hartlepool, but work on the existing centre at the Marina's west harbour had to be halted following a mix-up over a licence.

Little is known about the exact design of the Tall Ships Centre, although it is expected to be at least 70ft tall and would be used to maintain and restore ships