The Gateshead Council Planning and Development Committee met on Wednesday to discuss a number of planning applications, enforcement activities, and appeals. The committee approved the change of use of a building on The Crescent, Dunston to a house in multiple occupation (HMO), and reviewed reports on enforcement team activities, planning enforcement appeals, planning appeals, and planning obligations.

Planning Application: 5/5A The Crescent, Dunston

The committee approved an application for the proposed change of use of an existing building at 5/5A The Crescent, Dunston Hill from a hairdressers and 4-bed dwelling to a 7-person House in Multiple Occupation (HMO).

The applicant, named only as McBay in the minutes, also sought permission for a new ground floor window in the north elevation.

Councillor Lynne Moir declared an interest in this item and left the room during the discussion and vote.

The committee reviewed an addendum agenda which contained an update report noting that a further 16 objections had been received since the publication of the officer report. The update summarised the objections as relating to:

• Waste management
• Concerns about future residents, including suggestions that they could be people with substance abuse issues or migrants
• Loss of light
• Overbearing impact
• Out of character with Conservation Area
• Loss of trees
• Impact on house values
• Unacceptable location, especially near to a school

The report clarified that the planning system deals with the use and development of land, rather than the identity and background of any particular occupiers of the buildings. It also noted that the site is not within a Conservation Area, and that the application does not require the removal of any trees.

The committee decided to grant permission for the application subject to a number of conditions:

1. The development must be carried out in accordance with the approved plans.
2. The development must be commenced within 3 years of the date of permission.
3. The HMO shall only be occupied on the basis of 1 person per bedroom and there shall be no more than a total of 7 residents occupying the property at any time.
4. A revised management plan must be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority prior to the HMO being brought into use. The plan shall demonstrate how the property will be managed to minimise impact on neighbouring occupiers.
5. The development must be managed in accordance with the approved management plan at all times when the HMO is occupied.
6. All external works and ancillary operations in connection with the conversion of the property, including deliveries to the site, shall be carried out only between 0800 hours and 1800 hours on Mondays to Saturdays and at no time on Sundays, Bank Holidays or Public Holidays.
7. Details of covered, secure, weatherproof cycle parking must be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority prior to the HMO being brought into use.
8. The approved cycle parking provision must be provided prior to the HMO being brought into use and retained thereafter for the lifetime of the development.
9. Final details of noise mitigation measures, in line with the recommendations in the Acoustic Design Statement by Northburn Acoustics¹ must be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority prior to the HMO being brought into use, or prior to the glazing and rear yard fence being installed, whichever is the sooner.
10. The noise mitigation measures must be provided prior to the HMO being brought into use and retained thereafter.

Enforcement Team Activity

The committee received a report on the Enforcement Team's activity between 23 July 2025 and 19 August 2025. During this period, the team received 177 new service requests, had 617 cases under investigation, resolved 155 cases, and had 14 pending prosecutions. There were no court cases during the period. The committee noted the information.

Enforcement Action

The committee considered a report on the progress of enforcement action previously authorised by the committee and noted the information.

Planning Enforcement Appeals

The committee received a report advising them of new appeals against enforcement action received and to report the decisions of the planning inspectorate received during the reporting period. Two new appeals had been received since the last committee meeting, and there had been no new appeal decisions since the last Committee. The committee noted the information.

Planning Appeals

The committee received a report advising them of new appeals received and to report the decision of the Secretary of State² received during the reporting period. No new appeals had been lodged since the last meeting. Four new appeal decisions and two appeal cost decisions had been received since the last meeting. The committee noted the information.

Planning Obligations

The committee received a report advising them of completion of Planning Obligations³ which have previously been authorised. There have been no new planning obligations since the last Committee. The committee noted the information.