A CITY centre street already ‘overloaded’ with students is in line for nearly 20 more, after a developer was given three more years to build three large houses.

Kingswood Properties North East’s 2009 planning consent to build three six-bedroom houses on land next to 24 The Avenue, Durham, was due to expire next week.

But a Durham County Council planning committee agreed to extend the permission for three more years.

The council’s central and east planning committee, meeting at County Hall on Tuesday (December 12), voted 6-1 in favour of the extension.

The decision came despite widespread opposition from residents, who said the houses would be let to students, compounding problems of late-night noise, anti-social behaviour, litter and parking.

Neville’s Cross councillor Grenville Holland said The Avenue was already overloaded with students and was being progressively denuded and diminished and the scheme would be exploitation of the city for short-term gain.

Resident Simon Priestley said students occupied nearly half of homes on The Avenue and there were three times as many students as non-students.

However, Christopher Fish, representing Kingswood Properties North East, said the project had been delayed mainly due to the financial climate but the firm hoped to begin work on site within six months and be nearly complete within three years.

Addressing residents’ objections, Mr Fish said problems with students went back to the late 19th Century.

Councillor David Freeman, the only committee member to vote against the scheme, said granting it permission in 2009 had been a mistake and it would go against the aim of creating balanced communities.

However, Councillor Pauline Charlton said much of Durham’s economy stands on students and people were vilifying them.

Afterwards, Mr Priestley said: “I understand their reasons for making the decision but we’re disappointed that there’s potential for another 18 student places on a road which is already saturated with students.

“This is not about vilifying students. This is about trying to get balanced communities.”

The committee unanimously approved imposing a “C3” condition on the project, so the homes must be dwellings rather than Houses in Multiple Occupation.