PLANS to build a boutique hotel with bar and bistro on a patch of wasteland on Yarm High Street are due to be submitted to Stockton Borough Council later this week.

The 20-bedroom hotel would be built on the corner of Bentley Wynd on the top end of the street, once occupied by a garage, which has been derelict for years.

Jake Majid, of Maher Entertainments, which is behind the hotel plan, said an application would be submitted either later this week or early next.

The 22-year-old, whose father is Javed Majid who owned the now flattened Tall Trees hotel for many years, said he wanted to create "something Yarm can be proud of."

He said his family has received "a bit of stick" in the past for the state of the site, but he said it had been cleared several times to make it more presentable. He attended Yarm Town Council to present the plans which had been "received quite well."

He explained older style, larger hotels like the Tall Trees, are no longer as viable but smaller hotels with bars and bistros can still be an asset.

"The site is not in its ideal state and, whenever we've been asked to clear it, we have done so, but there's only so much we can do with that in that state. To be on Yarm High Street it has to be something of a high standard and we want to create something that Yarm can really be proud of."

Yarm town councillor Andrew Sherris said: "This prominent site at the entrance to the High Street has been derelict and an eye sore for many years. This planning application will be welcomed by many local people and to see a high class, sympathetically designed building in keeping with the architectural heritage of the High St will prove an asset for the town.`

"Although a different scheme was rejected on appeal years ago, things have moved on since then with the introduction of new businesses and a wide extension of hours on the High Street. I am pleased that in this instance, the applicant wants to work with near by residents and to restrict hours to a reasonable 11pm. I would hope that planning officers can prove flexible enough and enable this development to come to fruition."

Last year, Stockton Council completed £500,000 of works to enhance the street, including installing new lighting and paving.