SG Petch has had its plans to transform a former Morrisons supermarket in Sunderland into a car dealership approved by the city’s council.

Sunderland City Council has given the go ahead for the Durham-based franchised retail group to complete its redevelopment of the existing store site on Castle View, off Wessington Way, Sunderland, at a meeting last week.

The site, which covers a site of 4,160 square metres and features internal space amounting to 1,150 square metres was one of several Morrisons stores closed after the retail chain reported a slump in profits back in 2015.

With space for 87 spaces the existing facility has been deemed perfect for transformation by SG Petch, however.

The change of use could create up to 15 full-time jobs, according to chroniclelive.co.uk.

SG Petch has dealerships including sites in Darlington, Durham, Middlesbrough, Richmond and York, representing a portfolio of brand partners which includes Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Jeep, Hyundai, Isuzu, Kia, Mazda, Nissan, Peugeot and Seat.

A design and access statement attached to the application for its new dealership facility includes conditions related to the delivery of vehicles to the site.

It said: "This application has considered the adjacent buildings which include industrial, residential, motor dealerships and retail

"It is considered that this application will seek to improve the existing landscape to create a sympathetic design which is in keeping with the materials and scale of the surrounding area of Wessington Way, Sunderland."

Following a council request, applicants also have to provide details of a traffic calming scheme, chroniclelive.co.uk said.

This aims to "prevent conflict" between vehicles and pedestrians both on site and around the east access, it said.