Plans to convert a County Durham community hall into a residential building have been approved by the council.

The former community hall on the ground floor of the building was closed in March 2020 after evidence showed it was rarely used and no longer viable.

Plans include the installation of solar panels on the rear roof, a new front door canopy, and the relocation of the bin store to the rear of the house.

The development aligns with specific policies in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), including ensuring high-quality design that is sympathetic to the local character and promoting sustainable transport.

Durham County Council's decision to approve the conversion of the property into a residential space was also supported by the availability of other community facilities in the area, which provide similar or better services than the previous community hall.

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The application received no public objections, indicating either community acceptance or a lack of opposition to the proposed changes.

Feedback from the Highway Authority and Environmental Health raised no concerns, but conditions on construction hours to limit noise were applied.

Several conditions have been attached to the planning permission to ensure the development aligns with local planning policies and standards.

These include restrictions on construction hours to minimise noise disturbance to the neighbourhood, the requirement for any external materials used in the construction to match the existing building, and specific requirements for the installation of solar panels to ensure they do not negatively impact the visual amenity of the area.

Council officers emphasised the importance of adhering to these conditions to avoid potential enforcement action.

An approval letter from Durham County Council outlined the next steps regarding compliance with Building Regulations and the conditions of the planning permission.

Integration of solar panels and the relocation of the bin store underline the commitment to sustainability and residential amenity standards.