By Martin Walker
Plans to refurbish the old Thrislington building into an exciting new indoor football complex are due to be discussed next week.
A firm named the Soccer Factory has lodged an application to transform the former Thrislington Partitions site, on Ayliffe Industrial Park, into an indoor five-a-side centre.
The exciting new complex, which is expected to create at least four new jobs, will also include changing facilities, a weights room, meeting rooms and a small café.
Durham County Council’s planning committee will consider the application next Thursday.
And councillors are being urged to back the plans.
Thrislington closed in 2008 after 62 years on the town, with the loss of 60 jobs.
In a report to councillors, planning officer David Gibson said the site had been set aside for employment, but there were already a number of vacant sites in Aycliffe.
“It is widely accepted that the manufacturing industry within the UK is in decline and demand for induistrial accommodation in the North-East is currently low,” said Mr Gibson.
“This is highlighted by the slow take-up rates of the undeveloped industrial land at Aycliffe Indsutrial Park.
“This demonstrates that uses away from the manufacturing industry must be considered as a way of regenerating and bringing empty land and buildings into active use.”
Planning guidance states that leisure facilities should usually be built in towns, or on the edge of towns, but Mr Gibson said there was a case for departing from the guidance.
He said the applicants had considered sites in and around Newton Aycliffe, Shildon, Durham, Darlington, Woodham and Rushyford, but none met the applicants requirements of floor space of between 7,000 and 9,000 square metres and a large parking area.
Mr Gibson recommended that a change of use application, which would ordinarily allow a site to be used for general leisure purposes, to be granted.
However, he recommended a condition that the site only be used for five-a-side to prevent a cinema, bingo hall or skating rink being established outside of the town.