Plans to convert a house into a HMO on Sherburn Road Estate in Durham have been approved by the council.

The property at 41 Oak Avenue will be transformed into a small House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) for up to four unrelated individuals.

Plans were initially submitted on July 1 and were given the green light by Durham County Council on Thursday, one week after the approval of two other HMOs in Durham city.

Durham County Council say the property is in an area with a low concentration of HMOs—below the 10 per cent threshold, with only 4.8 per cent of properties within a 100-metre radius being HMOs.

Following approval of the application, submitted by Mr P Soulsby and managed by Origin Planning Services, development must start within three years and must adhere strictly to the submitted plans.

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In a bid to ensure minimal disruption to neighbours, soundproofing measures detailed in the submitted plans must be completed before the property is occupied.

External materials used in the conversion must match the existing structure to maintain the appearance of the area.

Cycle and bin storage must also be installed and maintained before occupation.

The property will have a maximum occupancy limit of four unrelated individuals and must provide three parking spaces before it is occupied.

A management plan has been submitted to ensure the property is well-managed.

The HMO licensing department has confirmed the property won't need a licence but must adhere to fire and space standards.

Highways authorities have raised no objections to the parking arrangements, which include three in-curtilage spaces.

The environmental health department also has no objections, as long as soundproofing measures are in place before the property is used.

Inclusion of three parking spaces is expected to ensure no negative impact on local traffic, and provisions for cycle storage promote sustainable travel.

The proposal does not significantly alter the external character of the property, and any changes are in keeping with the area.