COUNCILLORS are under growing pressure to throw out plans to build three houses with nearly 30 bedrooms between them, after the police raised concerns.

Kingswood Properties has applied for planning permission to build three nine-bedroomed houses on land next to 24 The Avenue, in Durham City.

Neighbours say the homes would become Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) for students, increasing problems of late-night noise, anti-social behaviour, litter and parking.

Now Steven Drabik, architectural liaison officer for Durham Police, has written to Durham County Council calling for the application to be refused.

He writes: “Students are transient members of the community and tend not (sic) contribute in the same way that settled residents do, introducing another 27 students into this residential area could adversely effect (sic) the local demographic, something which the existing residents recognise and which has prompted their objections.

“It is possible that if this proposal were to go ahead and it generated nuisance there could be an adverse demand on policing with resources drawn to this development to the detriment of the wider community.”

CMF Planning and Design, the agents acting for Kingswood Properties, say the proposal would address the inadequacies of the site and positively enhance the conservation area.

For more information or to comment on the application, visit durham.gov.uk

A council planning committee is expected to debate the scheme before Christmas.

Meanwhile, Kingswood Properties has applied to extend the time limit on its planning consent to build three houses with up to six bedrooms each on the site, granted in 2009. The current permission would expire if building was not underway by Sunday, December 16.