CAMPAIGNERS have been unable to stop a family home being converted to student flats, but were able to block the extension of a separate student property.

Durham County Council’s planning department had recommended proposals to remodel the property in Cedar Drive, in Durham City, for use as a HMO (House in Multiple Occupation).

But the scheme faced opposition over concerns including traffic, the number of houses in the street already converted to HMOs and fears ‘student lifestyle is diametrically opposed’ to that of the families already living there.

Councillor Paul Taylor said: “This is a lovely family area and I’m against the proliferation of business opportunities to force students into family areas.

“That said, we’re struggling here because it’s permitted development.

“I’m very happy to put together an alternative case, but in this case I feel we’re struggling and I regret that.”

Coun Taylor was speaking at a recent meeting of the county council’s Area Planning Committee for central and east County Durham, which was held by videolink and broadcast via YouTube.

Applicant Gabrielle Moore said the design for the extension was planned and executed to mirror that of the houses close by, which ‘look elegant and in keeping with the neighbourhood’.

The meeting heard the planning authority council had received 27 letters of objection, but case officer George Spurgeon advised councillors to support the application.

He said: “The proposed extensions are considered to be of a reasonable scale that would avoid adversely affecting the amenity of neighbouring residents, in terms of loss of light, overshadowing, visual intrusion, or having an overbearing impact.

“The proposed extensions are also considered to be of a good design that is sympathetic to the host property and would not adversely affect the character and appearance of the area.”

The council’s highways department also claimed parking provision was acceptable, while permission was not required to convert the home to a HMO, prompting the committee to approve the plans with eight votes in favour and four against.

A separate application to extend an existing HMO in Whinney Hill, increasing it from four bedrooms to six, was also put to the panel with another recommendation from the planning department for approval.

According to a report for the committee, council tax data showed two fifths of properties within 100 metres of the site are already designated student homes, prompting Coun Taylor to warn Whinney Hill risked being ‘lost as a residential area’.

He backed a proposal by Coun David Freeman to reject the scheme, which was narrowly supported by the rest of the committee, seven votes to five.

Planning committee members did not feel able to reject a third application seeking a ‘certificate of lawful use’ to turn a house into a HMO, and it was approved by seven votes to three.