A community in Durham has been left furious after plans for student accommodation were approved in the quiet street - and there's more on the way.
Those living in Gilesgate Moor, Durham, hit out after plans to convert a house into a four-bedroom student accommodation on 10 Rowntree Avenue emerged.
Residents last night said the area is being “flooded” with student accommodation as many argued the street should be for families instead.
It comes as just last week The Northern Echo reported on plans for another student accommodation, on 18 Moor Crescent, Gilesgate Moor, which would see a house converted into student accommodation for up to six people.
The plans for 10 Rowntree Avenue had managed to receive 26 objections from residents, while the recently submitted plans for 18 Moor Crescent have received over 50.
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Kevin Reay, whose mother lives next door to the planned student accommodation in Moor Crescent, warns that the student house could turn into a “frat house.”
Mr Reay, an ex-police officer from Durham who now lives in Essex, said Durham now looks “awful”
He added: “I live in Exeter at the moment but when I go back to Durham it looks awful because it’s so student-focused.
“I’m planning on taking some legal advice, as it’s just constant stress for my mam.
“All these student accommodations also affect the value of the property and I believe that Number 24 will also become student accommodation as well.”
The Northern Echo went down to speak to the communities involved, with many expressing their concern over parking issues, anti-social behavior and communities being steadily being pushed out of the area.
Catherine Wilkins, who lives near the property that will become student accommodation, said she feels “powerless” to change anything.
Ms Wilkins stressed that she was also angry due to being just four doors away from the development but wasn’t consulted.
She added: “The planning only goes to a certain number of houses for comment, but we still put an objection in.
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“My son was recently looking for accommodation in Durham and he couldn’t for the life of him get anything, it’s all student accommodation.”
She added: “It without a doubt gets residents upset, this is a three-bedroom house that has been taken away from the family that could have lived there, all for the sake of someone lining his pockets because he’ll make more money by making it a HMO.”
Ms Wilkins made it clear that she wasn’t against students, however, she felt that it can sometimes be “disruptive.”
She said: “Student accommodation can be disruptive, it’s not guaranteed to be disruptive because not all students are the same, but it’s more likely to be disruptive.
“They’re the type of people who use the nigh-time economy and want to go partying and hold parties in their house, when this is a street with kids in it.”
Sharon Wilson, who lives just over the road from the development, said she was one of the few people notified about it and soon made it her mission to make everyone in the community aware.
There is already a number of purpose-built student accommodation properties near to the street, such as one less than a mile at the Sands, one at Claypath and one on top of Gilesgate Bank.
Another student accommodation is also planned for the former Apollo Bingo Hall.
Ms Wilson argues that there is already enough, adding: “We just feel like we’re living on an oversized campus really.”
“If students move in, how many young families are going to want to live a few doors up from students, if they have young children, babies or dogs.
“The first thing that comes to mind is, am I going to have upset nights, and things like that.”
Speaking on the objections issued on the property, Ms Wilson said: “I’ve never seen as many objections as I have for this one.
“I talked to the guy from the Parish Council and he was saying that the 30 we got from across the road was a lot.
“But this one is well into the 50s, and you think that surely in time can public opinion not come into account.
“I just feel like we’re just going to be pushed out and pushed out and pushed out.
“it just seems like nothing can override the 10 percent rule.
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“I think to say that people are peed off is an understatement and this new accommodation just feels like the be all and end all.”
Ms Wilson was also keen to stress that she wasn’t against students.
She added: “I’m not saying that all students are bad, it could be rented to lovely students for two years and the next two years they’re off, they’re all transient.
“I just feel like we’re at our wits end with the whole thing.”
Among the residents The Northern Echo spoke to in the community was Parish Councillor Michael Watson, who was also strongly objecting to the plans.
He stressed that many of the residents also against the plans were away on holiday so not able to voice their objections.
Stephen Reed, Durham County Council’s planning development manager, said: “We appreciate the residents’ concerns and can assure them that any comments received on applications are fully considered.
“All applications for houses in multiple occupation (HMO) are judged against the development plan, including our County Durham Plan which was subject to full public consultation and has a specific policy covering HMO.
“This policy applies a threshold of ten per cent of properties in an area in current use as HMO, with this figure taken from national guidance.
“In the case of the application for Rowan Tree Avenue, the site was within this threshold and complies with our relevant policies.
“It would be inappropriate to comment on the Moor Crescent application while it is going through the planning process.”
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