Public hearing over refused student flats plan
GoogleA public hearing will be held over refused plans to turn a care home into student flats.
Unity Living wanted to transform Hallgarth Care Home, Durham, into 48 studio bed spaces, but Durham County Council planners ruled the accommodation was not needed.
The applicant appealed arguing there were not enough studio bed spaces in the city.
A government-appointed planning inspector will hear evidence from all parties at an appeal hearing next month. The City of Durham Parish Council has reiterated its opposition to the scheme while Mary Kelly Foy, City of Durham's Labour MP, also objects.
In its appeal letter, Unity Living said failure to deliver enough affordable purpose-built student accommodation options risked putting Durham University at a "competitive disadvantage".
It warned any further setbacks with the development would impact the wider city area, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.
Liz Brown, chair of the parish council's planning and licensing committee, said the proposal had been "rightly refused" and the applicant had "clearly failed" to demonstrate need for further student accommodation in the area.
"Durham simply cannot allow valued community facilities to be sacrificed on the basis of flawed evidence and speculative claims," she said, adding the council would be "at the vanguard of the fight against this proposal".
A previous proposal to convert the building into 69 apartments was refused in November 2023 and later failed at appeal amid concerns there were more students than permanent residents in Durham City.
The hearing will be open to the public and will take place at Durham Town Hall on 24 March from 10:00 GMT.
