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Dismissed14 January 20253351666

St Cuthbert's RC Social Club, Lumley Terrace, Chester Le Street, Durham, DH3 3NQ

Planning appeal 3351666 at St Cuthbert's RC Social Club, Lumley Terrace, Chester Le Street, Durham, DH3 3NQ (Durham County Council) was dismissed on 14 January 2025 by Inspector Clark L, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the site is a suitable location for young people in care having regard to the risk of crime in the surrounding area.

change of use from Social Club (Class E) to a Residential Institution (supported living) (Class C2) together with associated demolition and fitting out works

Authority
Durham County Council
Appeal type
minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure
Written Representations
Development
community-institutional · Change of use
Inspector
Clark L
Postcode
DH3 3NQ

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • whether the site is a suitable location for young people in care having regard to the risk of crime in the surrounding area
  • the effect of the appeal scheme on crime and a fear of crime and disorder in the area

What decided it

The appeal site is located in an area with demonstrably high crime levels which would expose the vulnerable young people in care to unacceptable risk of harm, contrary to Policy 18 of the County Durham Plan and the Framework's requirement that development creates safe places.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
Policy 18Policy 31
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 96

How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.

See how each was applied

The decision letter

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The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.

In the app this decision sits on the map beside every appeal around it, with its letter to read and the main issues, policies and judgments cited picked out.