PLANS to expand an historic town centre theatre from a capacity of 200 to 300 at a cost of more than £1 million will be put before planners this week.

The 18th Century, Grade II-listed Georgian Theatre in Green Dragon Yard in Stockton is primarily used as a music venue and the plan is to expand into the adjacent Stockton Borough Council-owned Courtyard Hotel, which is also Grade II-listed.

The planning application will be debated at Stockton council's planning committee at 1.30pm on Wednesday (February 17) in the central library, but it has been recommended for approval and no objections have been filed.

The council, the theatre's owners, has budgeted £1 million in its medium financial plan for the expansion, despite the announcement last week that the authority expects to make cuts of £21 million in the next four years.

The venue is run by music charity, Tees Music Alliance (TMA), who are planning in partnership with the council to make a joint bid for further grant funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund for an undisclosed sum.

The application includes outline plans for a rear extension to provide more toilets, more bar space, a daytime bar and cafe. The theatre will also open for longer hours if the plans are approved and all the money is found.

Paul Burns, TMA's director, who explained the organisation had run the venue since 1993, has previously said that having more toilets will allow more paying customers to attend. At a 300 capacity more higher profile music acts are likely to play the venue.

A planning officer's report to the planning committee noted that, despite the fact there had been no objections from the public, the increased capacity of the venue could impact on neighbours, but added: "However this is a central town centre location which is surrounded by existing public houses, consequently a degree of noise and nuisance is to be expected."

If granted planning permission, the redevelopment of the ground and first floors of the Courtyard Hotel is expected to start in the spring.

The Georgian Theatre opened in 1766 in what had previously been a tithe barn built in 1564 and is one of the oldest Georgian theatres in the country along with Norwich and Bath.

The oldest Georgian theatre in its original working form is the Georgian Theatre Royal in Richmond, North Yorkshire. The Stockton theatre was once a sweet factory and a Salvation Army Hall but was empty for a number of years until the council restored it and opened it a community building in 1980.