Plans to turn Chilton garage into a salon submitted

Miss Louise Edgerley, trading as Espire and based in Spennymoor, is seeking formal approval to convert the domestic garage on Bradbury Way, Chilton, into a small home-based salon, as well as to build a three-metre by three-metre single-storey rear extension.

The garage has already been used informally as a home salon for around four years after receiving pre-application advice in January 2022, noting that permission was not then required due to its limited scale, client numbers, and domestic hours.

A planning application states that the small-scale operation, being the applicant's sole source of income, will continue to operate professionally with no recorded complaints.

If approved, the salon will employ one full-time and one part-time worker, though the planning statement notes Ms Edgerley will continue to run the business solely as the full-time practitioner, preserving the salon's home-based character.

Operating hours for the salon are planned to be Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm, Saturday, 9am to 4pm, and Sunday and Bank Holidays, 9am to 3pm.

The business has a system of staggered appointments, accommodating around five to six clients per day to keep activity minimal.

This also helps manage parking demand, supported by a double driveway and street parking directly outside.

The salon’s treatments are described as quiet and domestic in nature, without any need for specialist machinery.

No new vehicle or pedestrian access is proposed.

Plans are with Durham County Council and a decision is set to be made in the coming weeks.