The Planning Applications Committee of Darlington Council is scheduled to meet on Wednesday 24 September 2025 to discuss planning applications and other related matters. The committee will consider an application for the demolition of a garage and erection of a dwelling at Abbey Road, as well as appeals against the council's decisions on previous planning applications. Councillors will also discuss complaints received and being considered under the council's approved code of practice.

Here are the key items on the agenda:

Land to the rear of 35 Abbey Road

The committee is scheduled to discuss an application for planning permission for land to the rear of 35 Abbey Road, Darlington for the:

Demolition of existing garage and erection of 1 no. self build residential dwelling and integral double garage within existing rear garden, new pedestrian and vehicular access, landscaping and associated works

The applicant is named in the report pack as Professor Ahmet Fuat.

According to the report pack, the application site is part of a domestic garden located to the rear of 35 Abbey Road, which is within the West End Conservation Area. The proposal is for a three-bedroom dwelling with an integral garage.

The main planning issues to be considered are listed as:

• Planning Policy
• Design and Impact on the Appearance of the Street Scene
• Impact on the Significance of the West End Conservation Area
• Residential Amenity
• Highway Safety and Parking Provision
• Biodiversity Net Gain
• Trees and Landscaping
• Land Contamination
• Archaeology
• Flood Risk and Drainage
• Nutrient Neutrality

The report pack notes that eight letters of objection have been received, raising concerns such as the design being out of keeping with the area, adverse impact on the conservation area, removal of trees, and adverse impact on ecological diversity.

The report pack states that the council's highways engineer, environmental health officer, ecology officer and arboricultural team leader have raised no objections to the principle of the development, subject to planning conditions. Durham County Council Archaeology team and Natural England have also raised no objections.

The report pack notes that the proposed dwelling has been designed to be primarily single storey so that it will remain largely hidden from view by the boundary walls. The single storey element will be constructed from brick, while the first-floor element would be constructed from a contrasting material of a copper standing seam finish.

The report pack also notes that the site is located within the River Tees Catchment Area and is therefore subject to guidance issued by Natural England in respect of the unfavourable condition of the Teesmouth and Cleveland Coast Special Protection Area (SPA).

The planning officer's report recommends that planning permission be granted subject to conditions.

Notification of Appeals

The Executive Director, Economy and Public Protection is scheduled to report on appeals against the council's decisions to refuse permission for:

• Display of signage at 318 North Road, Darlington, DL1 3BH - Mr Jijhar Singh has appealed against this Authority's decision to refuse permission for Display of 1 No. internally illuminated fascia sign to front elevation and 1 nonilluminated vinyl sign to side elevation (retrospective application)
• Erection of a front boundary wall and outbuilding at 21 Lanethorpe Road, Darlington, DL1 4SG - Mr Jason Bertuccelli has appealed against this Authority's decision to refuse permission for erection of front boundary wall up to 1.84m high and detached outbuilding/store within the front boundary, extension to the west elevation of the existing garden store and installation of an additional first floor window into existing side elevation of dwelling (part retrospective)

Exclusion of Public and Press

The committee is scheduled to consider the exclusion of the public and press during the consideration of complaints received and being considered under the council's approved code of practice. The report pack recommends that the public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of this item because it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in exclusion paragraph 7 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972¹.