TOUGHER new rules governing student accommodation were finally approved today (Wednesday, April 13), despite claims they are too little, too late.

A full meeting of Durham County Council today (Wednesday) rubber-stamped a new interim policy on purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) forcing developers seeking new planning permission to prove their accommodation is needed and would have no negative impact on the local community.

The County Hall meeting also endorsed the introduction of an Article 4 Direction for the city centre from September, forcing developers to apply for planning permission to convert homes into Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), and consulting on extending the regulation to Framwellgate Moor, Newton Hall and Pity Me.

Councillor Neil Foster, the Labour cabinet member for economic regeneration, said the issue of how best to accommodate students and “make the best of the benefits they bring” had been an important issue for a long time and was a key issue for residents of Durham City and the changes would allow the council to address this, with the goal being "sustainable, inclusive, mixed communities".

But he added: “Students are very welcome in Durham City. The council recognises the role they play in the culture and economic life of the city.”

However, Liberal Democrat Nigel Martin, who represents Neville’s Cross and was formerly a Durham University lecturer and principal of Trevelyan College, said too many houses had already been converted to HMOs and some areas of the city were “totally student”.

Additionally, the council had granted planning permission for more than 4,000 new student beds in recent years, he added, “simply because there hasn’t been a policy in place”.

“This is a city with a fabulous heritage and a great university. But do we want to be a city with a great university or a university that has a great city? There’s a danger of Durham City not knowing what it is. These policies will help but they’re frankly too late.”

Cllr Foster said the “vast majority” of HMO conversions had taken place under Lib Dem-led Durham City Council, which folded in 2009, and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) had a bias towards development, but the council would continue to work with the University.

Framwellgate Moor and Newton Hall Cllrs Amanda Hopgood and Mark Wilkes welcomed the Article 4 consultation for their area, although Cllr Wilkes said the Direction may have to be extended to other areas to “ensure everyone has decent types of housing” and County Durham does not return to the days of “tiny houses with everyone crammed in”.