RESIDENTS are considering seeking a judicial review after a council spurned their plea that planning consent for more than 200 student flats be revoked.

Durham County Council gave developer Connislow the go-ahead to build four blocks containing 223 student bedrooms on the former Fred Henderson garage, in Ainsley Street, Durham, shortly before Christmas.

A planning committee backed the scheme unanimously, despite neighbours saying the developmentwould turn the area into a “student ghetto” and Durham University raising concerns over its management and lack of communal facilities.

Last month, husband and wife Richard and Rachel Coleman, who live nearby, wrote to County Hall claiming the decision was unlawful.

They asked the council to revoke it, investigate the proposals further and, if Connislow wished to continue, put the scheme before a new committee.

The council has now replied, saying the decision was properly reached.

Mrs Coleman said she and her husband were considering their response and could seek a judicial review of the decision.

“It makes you feel very despondent about the planning process in general,” she said.

“It leaves a sour taste in your mouth. You feel the people in charge don’t know what they’re doing and don’t have any regard for the residents or the city as a whole.

“It’s demoralising and depressing. It’s awful. Everyone living round here is feeling pretty fed up.”

The Colemans have had support from Neville’s Cross councillor Grenville Holland.

At December’s meeting, Connislow managing director John Parkinson said Durham City had a shortfall of student accommodation, the scheme was sustainable and the firm had gone as far as it could to allay residents’ concerns.

The accommodation would be managed by Universal Student Living and Connislow had hoped to start work on site later this year.

The development is one of three which campaigners say threaten the Flass Vale nature reserve. Gentoo already has planning permission to create an exclusive housing estate on Waddington Street’s Arriva bus depot and the future of the County Hospital remains unclear.