A DECISION on whether an upmarket guest house can open on one of the region’s most exclusive streets has been delayed.

Durham County Council’s central and east planning committee was due to debate leading businessman Nigel Gadd’s plans to open a guest house at 40 South Street, Durham on Tuesday (September 23).

However, the item was withdrawn from the agenda at short notice. The application still stands and the issue will be debated by the committee in the near future.

The premises was previously home to the ten-bedroom Graft House boutique hotel, which opened in December 2007 but closed within 15 months.

Mr Gadd, whose previous ventures include Zen and Gadd’s Town House restaurants, wants to create an eight-bed guest house.

However, 15 objects were filed, including from Durham City MP Roberta Blackman-Woods, councillor Richard Ormerod and the City of Durham Trust.

Traffic, parking problems and noise from guests are among the concerns.