RESIDENTS have spoken of their anger after learning controversial housing plans which had been rejected by councillors are to be returned for reconsideration – because of a error in council minutes.

Durham county councillors had agreed unanimously two weeks ago to refuse a renewed application by Persimmon Homes for a development of land on The Sands in Durham.

But a refusal notice was not given after it was found that number of parking spaces allowed in the original application incorrect was incorrectly recorded.

That application, passed in 2014, allowed for the demolition of Kepier House and the building of 35 apartments and an undercroft car park in 2014 .

Work started to excavate for a basement car park, but this did not go ahead because of problems Persimmon claimed they had with flooding.

The renewed application sought to move the car parking spaces above ground and was recommended for approval.

But councillors rejected them on traffic grounds they conflicted with the authority’s own planning rules.

Resident Kathryn Banks, said: “I am upset about the error. But what is really annoying is that the error is pretty irrelevant.

“There were fewer car parking spaces in the plan already approved than the 46 thought to be the case.

“I don’t follow the logic that this will change the committee’s thinking, because members said the current application was conflict with council policies concerning traffic and residential amenity.”

Mrs Bank said, crucially, the parking from undercroft would have led to the already busy Sands, while the new plans provided for two more entrances onto the quiet cul-de-sac of Feren’s Close.

Stuart Timmiss, the county council’s head of planning, said: “We prepared a report for our Central and East area planning committee earlier this month on an application for 35 apartments at Kepier House, The Sands, Durham.

“Having considered the report and supporting documents, members voted to refuse the application.

“We have since discovered that a figure in the report and supporting documents on parking provision was wrong.

“It is important that our planning process is robust and therefore, on the advice of our legal team, we are bringing the application back to the committee next month for reconsideration.

“We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused by the error.”

The plans will be reconsidered on November 11.