The Area Planning Committee (North) of Durham County Council is scheduled to consider two planning applications at its meeting on Thursday 29 October 2026. These include a proposal for an artificial grass pitch at a school in Chester-le-Street and a change of use application for a property in Annfield Plain, Stanley, which would see a hot food takeaway become a tanning salon and the upper floors converted into a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO).

Artificial Grass Pitch at Park View Upper School and Sixth Form

A significant item scheduled for discussion is an application for the erection of an artificial grass pitch (AGP), perimeter and acoustic fencing, LED lighting columns, and associated car parking at Park View Upper School and Sixth Form in Chester-le-Street. The report pack indicates that the proposal has generated considerable public interest, with 164 objections and 89 letters of support received.

The report outlines that the principle of an AGP on the site is considered acceptable, aligning with local and national planning policies, and that substantial weight should be given to the benefits of new community facilities. It also suggests that noise and light impacts would not harm the living conditions of nearby residents, provided certain measures are implemented and secured by planning conditions. However, a key concern highlighted in the report is the potential for substantial adverse impact on living conditions due to additional parking and vehicle and pedestrian movements in nearby residential streets. This issue has been a central point in previous planning decisions regarding similar proposals at the site. The report notes that while the Highway Authority has raised no objection on road safety grounds, planning officers consider that the anticipated visitation rates and the use of existing facilities at the school, combined with the availability of on-street parking, could lead to overspill parking in residential streets, causing significant harm to residential amenity. This potential harm is considered by officers not to be outweighed by the proposal's benefits, leading to a recommendation for refusal.

Change of Use at 20A Front Street, Annfield Plain

Another key item for discussion is an application for a change of use at 20A Front Street, Annfield Plain, Stanley. The proposal involves changing the ground floor from a hot food takeaway (Sui Generis) to a tanning salon (Use Class E) and converting the upper floors into a five-bedroom House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) (Use Class C4).

The report indicates that the site is located within the Annfield Plain Conservation Area and is surrounded by a mix of commercial and residential properties. The proposal is considered to represent a productive reuse of an underutilised building within the local centre. The report suggests that the tanning salon would bring a vacant commercial unit back into active use, supporting the vitality of the area, and that the principle of a small HMO in this location is acceptable, not leading to an overconcentration of such dwellings or adversely affecting community balance. It is also noted that the proposal would contribute to the supply of homes at a time when the Council cannot demonstrate a five-year housing land supply.

Concerns have been raised by local residents and Councillor Darren Grimes regarding the potential over-concentration of HMOs, the impact on community balance, and the standard of accommodation for future residents. Durham Constabulary has also expressed concerns regarding the unknown future occupants of the HMO. However, the report states that planning permission is not within the remit of controlling who resides in a property and that decisions are based on land use and planning impacts. The report details that the proposal would comply with the Council's Interim HMO Policy and the County Durham Plan's policy on HMOs, as the concentration of HMOs within a 100-metre radius would not exceed the 10% threshold. The report also addresses concerns about residential amenity, highway safety, and ecological issues, concluding that these have been satisfactorily addressed, subject to the imposition of conditions. A financial contribution towards improving open space is also to be secured through a legal agreement.

The meeting is also scheduled to confirm the minutes of the previous meeting held on 23 July 2026.