Flats plan given the go-ahead by council

A bid to increase the number of rooms in a student house near Durham city centre has been given the go ahead, despite parking concerns.

Durham County Council’s area planning committee met to discuss plans for a three-bedroom property in Prospect Terrace, in the Neville’s Cross area. An application aimed to turn the house in multiple occupation (HMO) into a five-bedroom property, with extensions on both the ground and first floor.

A report, presented to the committee at Durham County Hall, revealed that almost 20 per cent of homes within 100 metres of the application site are currently HMOs, with high numbers of student lets. Despite calls to use council powers which limit the number of new student accommodation premises in Durham, councillors heard the policy did not apply to buildings with existing HMO status.