Plans to convert a County Durham shop back to a residential property have been approved by the council.

The property at 53 Byerley Road, Shildon, previously functioned as a beauty studio.

A key factor in the council's approval was prioritising harmony with the neighbourhood which can be achieved as the exterior will not change during the shift.

The planning application, submitted by Mrs. Caitlin Summerbell, stated that the transition shouldn't cause any traffic or parking disruptions.

Therefore, the council decided the project met both local County Durham guidelines and national planning frameworks.

Mrs. Summerbell assured me there was no suspected contamination on the land and deemed it unnecessary to install new roads or vehicle access.

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This change comes with sustainability in mind, the location being deemed fitting for housing and the transformation expected to neither negatively impact the neighbours nor hinder the future residents' living standards.

It has also been confirmed that the project falls under statutory exemptions, freeing it from Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements.

Along with approving the change, the council provided instructions for the next steps which include a crucial condition in the approval document to secure Building Regulations approval prior to initiating the work.

This is to ensure all precautionary measures are taken for maintaining living standards and regulating space requirements.

The council expressed their wish to be notified once the work commences and the work must be started within three years of the approval being granted.