A TEESSIDE council is expected to approve a decision to turn a shop and a house into flats despite 200 letters of objections from nearby residents.

Next Monday, councillors from Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's planning committee will take a site visit to the premises at Borough Road, Redcar, to decide whether they should give the go-ahead for the conversion into four self contained flats.

The proposed accommodation would comprise two apartments on both ground and first floors containing two bedrooms, a bathroom, lounge and kitchen.

In a report to the council's planning committee, Stephen Kirkham, director of resources, said: "The opportunity now arises to restore the building in keeping with adjacent properties and wholly in residential use.

"It is felt that this proposal is not detrimental to residential amenity or the residential area generally, particularly as the intention is to provide four good quality apartments in keeping with the residential standards of the area."

But residents from neighbouring Windsor Road, Conway Road, Borough Road, Richmond Road, Greenlands Road, Malcolm Grove, Wardman Crescent, Raby Road and Barnard Grove have all objected against the proposal citing 35 different reason why the application should be rejected.

Objectors say that the property is in an area of predominantly single family accommodation where conversion to flats, as outlined in the council's adopted policies, is not normally permitted. They say that conversion into two semi-detatched dwellings would be more in character with the area. Some residents said the property had been deliberately downgraded so that any improvements would be seen as a bonus.

There are also social concerns as many people believe Redcar has enough bed-sits and rented accommodation.

But Mr Kirkham says the property is within the limits of development, although it lies within an area of single family accommodation.

He said: "It would be difficult to resist the premises' proposed use as it would not harm either visual or residential amenity and, where few other opportunities exist for similar conversions, would not alter the overall character of the area."

Mr Kirkham is recommending that councillors approve the application following their site visit