9 John Street, DURHAM, DH1 4DE

Change of use from small HMO (use class C4) to a sui generis HMO

Authority: Durham County Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Change of use
Inspector: Coyne C

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

The effect of the proposed change of use on the mix of housing in the area having regard to the balance between family housing and houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), community cohesion and the amenities of non-student residents

What decided it

The proposal would increase the existing over-concentration of HMOs in an area already at 68.5% Class N properties, failing to accord with the 10% and 90% thresholds in Policy 16 of the County Durham Plan and thereby further unbalancing the housing mix and harming community cohesion.

Plan policies cited: Policy 16, Policy 29, Policy 31

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