A NEW restaurant will open in Yarm after plans to convert a listed building were passed by councillors.

But details about what kind of restaurant it would be remain under wraps at present.

Stockton Council's planning committee voted seven to four in favour of the plans for the building, which is a grade-II listed property on the corner of High Church Wynd and the High Street, despite receiving eight objections from nearby residents.

Craig Harrison, who lives next door to the property, opposite Yarm Town Hall, which is currently Thomson travel agents, said: "I live in the residential property closest to this property.

"There will be noise pollution generated by diners on the other side of my bedroom wall. The premises will be open until midnight.

"Am I expected to have to put up with this every night? Staff members will be on the fire escape outside for cigarette breaks and the steel structure echoes every footstep around the alleyway.

"There will also be noise pollution generated by kitchen staff and equipment and the odours will be wafting through the open windows."

The new restaurant will have a bar on the ground floor and eating areas on the ground and first floors, with the kitchens on the second floor and storage at the top of the building.

Naomi Gibson, representing the applicants, said the eatery would support the viability of the town.

But objectors said they were concerned about noise, disturbance, the amount of restaurants already in Yarm, and dustbins down the narrow alley to the side of the property.

Yarm Town Council also objected to the scheme, saying: "This change of use within the Yarm Conservation area will damage an important feature of Yarm town centre and create considerable disturbance and loss of amenity to residents and users of High Church Wynd and the High Street.

"A major feature of Yarm is the narrow Wynds that run from the High Street.

"Much the best of these is High Church Wynd.

"It retains many original residential properties, small cottages; many lived in by local people, and new housing which has been sympathetically designed, but no commercial premises."

The town council also raised concern that there were no lifts within the property.

Councillors voted in favour of the change of use, and also listed building consent.