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Dismissed14 July 20253359018

Dog And Gun Inn, Auton Stile, Bearpark, Durham, DH7 7DB

Planning appeal 3359018 at Dog And Gun Inn, Auton Stile, Bearpark, Durham, DH7 7DB (Durham County Council) was dismissed on 14 July 2025 by Inspector Cowley R, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether or not the loss of a community asset is acceptable, having regard to the relevant provisions of the development plan.

change of use of existing building from public house (sui generis) to form workspace (use E) & bar/restaurant/café/retail (use E) & associated external alterations

Authority
Durham County Council
Appeal type
minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure
Written Representations
Development
retail · Change of use
Inspector
Cowley R
Postcode
DH7 7DB

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • Whether or not the loss of a community asset is acceptable, having regard to the relevant provisions of the development plan
  • Whether the development provides adequate and safe access arrangements for all users
  • Whether the development provides adequate car parking

What decided it

The unjustified loss of a valued community asset (the public house) due to insufficient evidence of non-viability, combined with failure to provide adequate and safe access arrangements for all users, outweighed the adequate car parking provision.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
Policy 6Policy 9Policy 21Policy 29
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 88Paragraph 135

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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More decisions in Durham County Council

The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025

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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.