AN electricity substation can be built in Whittle Hall after Government chiefs backed a Manweb planning appeal.

But the electricity company says that it won't need to be built in the near future.

Borough councillors blocked the firm's plans to house the 33kv substation on Whittle Avenue back in June last year, saying that it was too large for the area. But now it can go ahead, after the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister backed Manweb's appeal.

Clr Les Street, ward councillor for Whittle Hall, said that he and fellow member John Morris were very disappointed by the verdict.

He added: "We are disappointed that after putting forward a very reasoned and persuasive attempt to have this substation relocated to a less sensitive location, supported by the borough's development control committee, the inspector has chosen to impose this development on local residents."

The inspector ruled that the proposal would not be detrimental to people living nearby, but a spokesman for Manweb said that the substation would only be built if an increase in demand was found, and that the company needed the planning permission should a large increase in supply prove necessary.