A DISTINCTIVE art deco-inspired building is to be bulldozed to make way for two blocks of flats.

Stockton Borough Council’s planning committee approved the demolition of the 1930s Rookery building in Eaglescliffe after hearing it was beyond repair.

The Rookery on South View, which is in the Eaglescliffe conservation area, is believed to have once belonged to a sea captain and was build to look like the bridge of a ship.

A total of 25 people objected to its demolition on the grounds that the building was unique but also on traffic and parking issues.

However the building, which has had previous planning applications to demolish it approved, is not protected and it has been empty and failing into disrepair for some time.

An archaeological assessment last year indicated the structure was built on part of the original 1825 Stockton to Darlington Railway, the world’s first passenger railway. A report from Tees Archaeology submitted to the committee said that the trains would terminate at coal drops at the southern end of the site and it is possible, if unlikely, that sections of the track bed and associated buildings survive in the building’s garden. Tees Archaeology said any building work should be monitored.

The Rookery will be replaced by a 14-apartment development with most of the buildings two-storey with a maximum of three-storey. The apartments will be built across two blocks, the larger containing nine apartments and a second, smaller building to the rear with five units.

Conservative councillor for Eaglescliffe Phillip Dennis voted against the application. He said Labour members of the committee had ignored traffic and parking issues in the area which could have provided grounds for refusal.

Speaking after Wednesday’s planning committee meeting held at Stockton Central Library, he said: “We would have preferred the original structure to be retained. This building is at the top of the hill and dominates the area, adding character. You see complete wrecks all around the country restored.

“This has been allowed to become run-down which is a great shame. There’s tax breaks which can encourage developers to knock down buildings and rebuild, which can work to the benefit of some areas, but is disappointing in this case.”

Chairman of the planning committee, Bob Gibson, said The Rookery had once been a beautiful building but was now beyond repair.

Attempts were made to get The Rookery listed in 2004, but English Heritage did not think the building was important enough. On this occasion English Heritage did not offer any opinion at all on the building to the committee. However a report by Stockton council’s own historic buildings officer said the proposal did not harm the overall character of the conservation area and raised no objections.