Plans to convert Bishop Auckland post office approved

The site at 47 Newgate Street, Bishop Auckland, will see its ground floor transformed for new use, with the upper floors already being converted into serviced apartments.

All changes must respect the historical character of the Bishop Auckland Conservation Area, with no external modifications affecting its appearance, according to Durham County Council.

The building, which dates back to Victorian times, was formerly a post office until 2019.

The new tenant for the commercial unit, Caps Off, will manage the café, which will operate under strict conditions to minimise any potential noise conflict with the adjacent residential units.

A soundproofing plan must be approved before any internal conversion work begins, and a noise management plan will also need to be submitted and approved before operations start.

Only background music, defined as music that allows normal conversation without raising voices, will be allowed.

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Operating hours will be from 10am to 10pm from Sunday to Wednesday, extended to 11pm on Thursday to Saturday.

Proposals, submitted by Alka Developments, follow a previously approved application to convert parts of the building into residential holiday lets and serviced apartments.

A change of use to residential apartments and a café does not involve any external changes to the building, which means there will be no negative impact on the conservation area's aesthetic or historical significance.

The building's historical, communal, and architectural values will be preserved under the new plan and the proposal received no objections or comments from neighbouring properties, indicating minimal public opposition.

The site, which measures 347 square metres, is not in a flood risk zone, and any surface water or foul sewage will be disposed of through existing mains drainage systems.