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Dismissed14 August 20266009231

Comet Social, 490 Durham Road, Low Fell, NE9 6HU

Planning appeal 6009231 at Comet Social, 490 Durham Road, Low Fell, NE9 6HU (Gateshead) was dismissed on 14 August 2026 by Inspector Paul Martinson, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effect of the development on the living conditions of the occupiers of neighbouring properties.

Change of use from cafe/restaurant to public house and the erection of decking and fencing to the rear to form a beer garden (Retrospective)

Authority
Gateshead
Appeal type
Planning
Procedure
Written
Development
leisure-sport
Inspector
Paul Martinson
Postcode
NE9 6HU

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • the effect of the development on the living conditions of the occupiers of neighbouring properties

What decided it

The unpredictable and fluctuating nature of social noise from the beer garden in very close proximity to residential properties, combined with the inadequacy of the Noise Impact Assessment to address this type of noise source, demonstrated that significant harm to neighbours' living conditions would result.

the benefits to the business in terms of supporting a local community enterprise and employment were outweighed by the significant harm to the living conditions of neighbouring residents

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
Policy CS14Policy CS15Policy MSGP17Policy MSGP18Policy MSGP24Policy MSGP25
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 135Paragraph 198

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 Gateshead

The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2026

  1. Allowed30 June 20266006899
    11 Surtees Haugh, Stella, Ryton, Gateshead, NE21 4FN
  2. Split Decision30 April 20266004916
    Old Durham Army Cadet, Blaydon Bank, Bladon, Gateshead, NE21 4AU
  3. Split Decision27 April 20266002707
    21 Church Rise, Whickham, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE16 4BU
  4. Dismissed23 February 20266001615
    Former Lloyds Bank Birtley, 54 and 55 Durham Rd, Birtley, Gateshead Borough, DH3 2QJ
  5. Dismissed30 July 20253360230
    Land off Eastern Avenue, Gateshead, NE9 6EE

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.