Plans for two new houses in Durham City approved despite objections from residents

Members of Durham County Council’s area planning committee endorsed proposals for the homes between 11 and 14 Sidegate, Durham City.

The meeting was told residents feared the properties would be brought into use as houses of multiple occupation (HMOs) for students, while there were also concerns about parking and bin storage, due to lack of space .

Recommending approval, principal planning officer Alan Dobie said the new homes would enhance the character and appearance of the conservation area by filling in an unsightly gap.

He added, it was acceptable in terms of parking and highways issues.

Objector Ian Horridge said five out of nine houses in the street were already HMOs and a further two accommodating students would have an adverse affect on amenity of existing residents.

He said: “There letters of objection from nine residents – that’s probably all the residents in the street – so you get the sense of feeling that people have got down the street. ”

Neil Naylor, speaking for the applicant Ian Eggleston, said Mr Eggleston owned two other properties in the street and did not want to see it “disrupted by disturbance or anti-social behaviour”.

He added the properties would be attracting a premium rent and were not necessarily for students.