A PLAN to convert a high street building into student flats has been approved despite warnings it could blight a World Heritage site.

A block of nine apartments with 58 en-suite bedrooms, gym, games room and laundrette is proposed for the former M&S building on Silver Street, Durham city centre.

Two upper floors of the building, now occupied by the Yorkshire Trading Company, would be converted and another storey added to the building, which is in a conservation area and near a World Heritage site.

Ian Kettlewell, agent for developers Metropolis Land and Property Developments Ltd, told councillors the plan would “deliver a wide range of benefits” including £4.2m investment and 185 construction-related jobs.

He said: “There’s a need for this type of accommodation. There’s a shortfall in supply in Durham.”

Councillors approved the plan after hearing objections at the Durham Council planning committee meeting.

The City of Durham Parish Council said the proposed building was “excessive, unjustified and harmful”.

Cllr Liz Brown, representing the parish council, said: “Could I remind members that it wasn’t too long since Liverpool was stripped of its World Heritage status because of the cumulative and irreversible effect of unsympathetic development within its setting.

“A vote in favour of this application today puts us one step further to a similar fate in Durham. We must not allow this to happen.”

She said the parish council believed the plan “constitutes over-development under the walls of the castle and cathedral” and breached policies to preserve and enhance the conservation area.

Durham planning officers said the proposed building would not be harmful but beneficial and in keeping, and would slightly enhance the appearance of the area by clearing roof clutter.

Senior planning officer Jennifer Jennings said the extended building would “nestle quite comfortably within the roofscape”.

Seven objectors included the World Heritage site coordinator, who was quoted as saying the plan underestimated the importance of the World Heritage site, and the City of Durham Trust.

Michael Hurlow, from the Trust, said the negative impact had been underappreciated, adding: “To approve the application could be seen as provocative, certainly very unhelpful.”

Other objections included the loss of retail space, overshadowing, anti-social behaviour, security and street lighting.

Cllr Jonathan Elmer said there were worries that “cumulative impact of building after building after building” might threaten World Heritage status.

He said: “I’ve got to conclude that this is going to have a net negative impact in the heritage value of the city. I really think we should be listening hard to local people.”

Cllr Carl Marshall supported the plan, saying: “There’s a risk that if nothing is done with this building we’d end up with a building which is vacant and void and is potentially a blight on the city.”

It was suggested to keep the development in the existing building without the extra storey - but the developer maintained this was not viable.

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