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

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

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.

Framework references: 96

Plan policies cited: Policy 18, Policy 31

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.

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What an account adds

Draw a red line around your site and the appraisal follows.
- Heritage. Listed buildings by grade and distance, conservation areas, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, heritage at risk.
- Landscape and environment. Green belt, national parks and national landscapes, SSSIs, ancient woodland, SPA, SAC and Ramsar sites, nutrient catchments.
- Flooding. Flood zones 2 and 3, surface water, and both again with climate change.
- Transport. The 800 metre station catchment and service frequency, bus stops with their weekday frequency, the cycle network, and the Framework’s transport tests measured for the site.
Then the development plan position, the housing land supply as an Inspector last accepted it, and every appeal decided around the site with its letter.
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