Plans for new hotel on Galgate, Barnard Castle refused

The proposal was put forward by Mr Paul Million, represented by Mr Jonathan McDermott, to transform a vacant former restaurant in Barnard Castle into a 19-bedroom apart-hotel.

Despite backing from Barnard Castle Town Council, the plans were blocked primarily due to environmental concerns.

The site, located at 105 Galgate, lies in an area where any development plans would need to address potential increased nitrogen levels in the Tees catchment area.

However, the applicant failed to provide an amended nitrogen budget or secure necessary credits, leading to the proposal's rejection.

The council noted that the development would likely have significant adverse effects on the Teesmouth & Cleveland Coast Special Protection Area due to increased nitrogen loading from wastewater.

This contravenes part of the County Durham Plan, relating to the conservation of habitats.

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Other objections came from local residents, who raised concerns about increased traffic and parking pressure on nearby streets.

The Highways Authority also noted a parking shortfall, as the proposed site could provide only 13 spaces, while 20 were deemed necessary, but despite these issues, the Highways Authority did not formally object, suggesting instead that visitors be guided towards alternative parking options.

Beyond these concerns, the proposal was generally well-received.

The Design and Conservation Team found the plans compatible with the Barnard Castle Conservation Area and nearby listed buildings.

Environmental health officials had no objections, provided construction hours were limited, and the Contaminated Land Team reported no contamination issues.

However, the lack of a viable strategy to mitigate the development's impact on nitrogen levels ultimately led to the refusal of the application which was made on November 13, 2024.