COUNCILLORS have agreed to allow outline planning permission for a surgery with a pharmacy on the site of a hospital car park.

The proposed three-storey building, with a total floor area of 1,800sq metres, would be on the site of the staff car park at Shotley Bridge Hospital.

In a report, Derwentside District Council's development control mananger, Tim Wheeler, said: "The proposal to relocate the Queens Road Surgery on to the Shotley Bridge Hospital represents a significant opportunity to improve primary health care facilities in Benfieldside.

"The site of the staff car park to the east is the most logical location within the site for this facility, as it would be closest to the bus stops on Queens Road."

Access to the site will be through the main access to the hospital from Queens Road and Woodlands Road and the spine road running through the hospital.

The outline proposal would involve the loss of a number of trees that were planted as part of the original landscaping scheme for the car park.

Mr Wheeler said that, while these trees were now of a significant size, they were a relatively insignificant part of tree cover in the area and their loss would not be harmful.

He added it would be desirable to keep a small number of larger trees along the southern boundary of the site, in the interests of residential properties bordering the site.

The plans, which were recommended for approval, provide for 60 car parking spaces.