The Area Planning Committee (Central and East) of Durham County Council was scheduled to discuss a proposal for the erection of 48 new homes in Bearpark. The meeting's agenda also included the consideration of two other planning applications, one for a change of use to a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) in Sherburn Road Estate and another for a similar change of use with an extension in the same area.

Erection of 48 Dwellings in Bearpark

The committee was scheduled to consider a proposal for the erection of 48 two-storey dwellings, with associated works, on land north of The Old Chapel, Colliery Road, Bearpark, DH7 7AU. This site is allocated for housing within the County Durham Plan (CDP). The application, identified as DM/24/03257/FPA, sought full planning permission for a development that would include a mix of two, three, and four-bedroom houses, with 15% of the units designated as affordable housing. The report pack indicated that 13 objections had been received, raising concerns about the principle of development, highway safety, residential amenity, wildlife, land stability, design, and infrastructure capacity. A single letter of support was also received, highlighting potential economic benefits and developer contributions. The report noted that while the development plan retains statutory primacy, the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is a key material consideration. Given an estimated shortfall in the council's five-year housing land supply, a tilted balance in favour of sustainable development was engaged. The recommendation was to approve the application, subject to conditions and a Section 106 legal agreement to secure affordable housing, contributions towards SEND schools, NHS GP surgery capacity, public open spaces, and the rights of way network, as well as ecology monitoring fees.

Change of Use to House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) at 6 Goodyear Crescent, Sherburn Road Estate

The committee was scheduled to consider an application (DM/25/02015/FPA) for a change of use from a dwellinghouse (Use Class C3) to a flexible use permission as an HMO (Use Class C4) and a dwellinghouse (Use Class C3) at 6 Goodyear Crescent, Sherburn Road Estate, Durham, DH1 2EB. The proposal was recommended for approval, subject to conditions. The report indicated that the flexible use would be for a 10-year period. No objections were raised by the Highways Section or Environmental Health, and HMO Licensing noted that as a small HMO, it did not require licensing. The percentage of student HMO properties within a 100-metre radius was reported as 6.3 percent, which is below the 10 percent threshold set out in the County Durham Plan (CDP) Policy 16. However, the application had been called to committee by a local member due to concerns about the proliferation of HMO properties and their impact on residential amenity. Two objections were received from the City of Durham Trust and Elvet Residents' Association, citing noise and potential issues with the flexible C3/C4 use. The report noted that officers intended for these properties to be counted towards the HMO number, with robust mechanisms in place to account for this.

Change of Use to House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) at 43 Oak Avenue, Sherburn Road Estate

Another application, DM/25/02066/FPA, concerning a change of use from a dwellinghouse (Use Class C3) to a flexible use permission as an HMO (Use Class C4) and a dwellinghouse (Use Class C3) at 43 Oak Avenue, Sherburn Road Estate, Durham, DH1 2ET, was also scheduled for discussion. This application included the erection of a single-storey extension to the rear and the provision of cycle and bin storage. It was recommended for approval, subject to conditions. Similar to the previous application, the flexible use would be for a 10-year period. The report noted that the application proposed no off-street parking and had been called to committee due to concerns about the proliferation of HMO properties and impacts on residential amenity. Environmental Health and Highways had no objections, although Highways noted that the application technically did not meet the requirements of the Parking and Accessibility SPD, but the lack of one parking space was not considered sufficient to warrant refusal. Three objections were received from the Gilesgate Residents' Association, the City of Durham Trust, and a local councillor. A significant point of discussion was expected to be the application's compliance with CDP Policy 16.3(d) regarding adequate parking provision and its potential impact on residential amenity, with a Parish Councillor expected to present arguments for refusal based on non-compliance with the Parking and Accessibility SPD.

The meeting was scheduled to commence with procedural matters, including apologies for absence, the appointment of substitute members, the confirmation of minutes from the meeting held on 7 October 2025, and declarations of interest.