A car park is set to be extended as part of town centre improvements proposed by Newcastle Borough Council.

A former service garage is also earmarked for demolition to provide a temporary parking area while work takes place at the Kidsgrove site.

Newcastle Borough Council has put forward a planning application to transform the area outside the King Street shops. In total 40 new car parking spaces will be created, including four electric vehicle charging spaces and four spaces for disabled users.

There will also be two replacement bus shelters and new brick planters, replacement street lighting, seating and steps. A pedestrian crossing will be created to connect the car park on the eastern side of King Street with the shops on the western side.

A planning statement submitted as part of the application said: "The borough council has secured £1.8 million of Town Deal funding from the Government which it intends to spend on these public realm improvements in order to uplift the area outside of the shops of King Street, and to provide additional car parking.

"The site currently forms part of the public realm along King Street, and comprises an area of block paving, along with a linear parking area, taxi rank, raised island which provides for a bus stop, and a public car park.

"Aside from some circular planters and bollards it provides little in the way of a high quality appearance or positive contribution to the character and appearance of the area.

"The proposed works to reconfigure the existing car parking areas, and provide a new two-way access into and out of the car park on the eastern side of the site, closing up the existing in / out arrangement, will make the area more pedestrian friendly as all traffic using the car park will be using a singular point of access.

"The new surfacing to be undertaken within the area will complement and enhance the surrounding area, and will also serve to reduce the large swath of tarmac that currently exists on the western side of King Street adjacent to the shopping parade. These resurfacing works, coupled with the proposed new planters, seating areas and replacement street lighting will enhance the character and appearance of the public realm in this area."

Listed below are planning applications published online by councils in Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire in recent weeks.