The meeting was scheduled to include a decision on a planning application for 41 Belgrave Street, Darlington and the receipt of a report on a dismissed appeal relating to 55 Neasham Road, Darlington. The committee was also scheduled to receive an update on an ongoing enforcement case.

41 Belgrave Street, Darlington

A retrospective planning application (application reference 24/00962/CU) was scheduled to be discussed relating to the change of use of 41 Belgrave Street, Darlington from a single dwelling to a short-term let/serviced accommodation.

The applicant stated that:

The submitted planning statement states that the property would be used for short stay accommodation, specialising in providing accommodation for travelling contractors coming to work within the area.

Objections to the application were received from neighbours. The meeting report pack summarises these objections as follows:

• The building is being used for short term let without planning permission in place. Concerns that there could be future breaches and disregard for regulations and impacts to neighbours.
• Impact upon local parking for the street.
• Overflowing refuse waste which can attract vermin. Commercial bins should be used.
• A rise in the number of bins to the frontage would be out of character for the street.
• Noise impacts from occupants and vehicle doors slamming during early mornings and late evenings.
• The development has caused anti-social behaviour. Vandalism to the house has occurred.
• The property is not being maintained
• Key safe was stolen and replaced, locks were never changed
• Concerns of health and safety i.e. no fire escapes in place

The report pack recommended that planning permission should be granted subject to conditions.

55 Neasham Road, Darlington

The committee was scheduled to receive a report on the dismissal of an appeal against its refusal of planning permission to allow 55 Neasham Road, Darlington to trade for one additional hour.

The report pack summarises the appeal as follows:

• The application sought to vary the existing hours of operation from a closing time of 9pm to 10pm, Monday to Sunday.
• This variation was refused due to amenity impacts via noise and disturbance to residential amenity.
• The inspector dismissed the appeal on planning procedural grounds; as the hours of operation were specifically mentioned within the description (that the business would close at 9pm), the variation could not be considered as it would amend the original description.
• The hours mentioned in the original description were in brackets, to notify neighbours on the original application of what the hours had been changed. This method is how neighbours are notified of any changes within a planning application. This is to be discussed within the planning team as to whether the process of neighbour consultation should be amended i.e. to include the nature of the change within the main body of the letter sent to neighbours, rather than within the main description.

The report pack recommends that the report be received.

Land on the North-west side of Brickyard Farm Cottage, Neasham Road, Hurworth Moor, Darlington

The Committee was scheduled to receive a report that Mr William Porrett had appealed against an enforcement notice issued by the council. The appeal reference is APP/N1350/C/24/3349389.

The report pack recommends that the report be received.

Complaints Received and Being Considered Under the Council's Approved Code of Practice

The committee was scheduled to receive a report on complaints received and being considered under the council's approved code of practice as of 22 November 2024. This part of the meeting was not open to the public.