Plans to knock down a Workington town centre building to make way for a 54-space car park have been withdrawn.

A proposal was submitted to Allerdale council last month to demolish buildings on New Oxford Street currently used by the county council’s adult social care and children's services departments. But the plan was withdrawn last Friday.

A spokesman for the council said its planning officers had advised applicant Mr Byers that there was not sufficient evidence to show that there was not an alternative employment use for the site, as required by the council's planning policy.

Workington Town Council's planning committee had objected to the plans as it deemed the demolition unnecessary.

In its objection it said: “The committee discussed the dominance of the building, as a part of the landscape in Workington town centre, and how this would be affected by its demolition.

“It was noted that although the building required some remediation, demolition should be unnecessary.

“The plans for the car park raised some concerns about Disability Discrimination Act compliance and the management of traffic flow on the already busy road.”

Chris Bagshaw, town clerk, said: “The particular issue raised was that the proposed site for the parking charge machine was not compliant because it was not adjacent to the disabled parking bays, among others.

“Councillors felt there should be alternative use for the building that isn’t just another car park.”

Last month the county council announced plans to relocate staff from its current site to West Cumbria House at Lillyhall, alongside the HMRC call centre. The move is set to happen next month at the earliest.