A POPULAR hotel and restaurant have been saved, after councillors threw out plans to turn the premises into student digs.

The owners of the Kingslodge Hotel, in Durham City, wanted to convert the Waddington Street building into rooms for 57 students, plans which would also have spelled the closure of the Michelin Guide-listed Finbarr’s restaurant, which operates within the complex.

Opposition flooded in from across the city and region, with 740 people signing a protest petition and 60 writing objection letters, and yesterday (Tuesday, November 11) Durham County Council refused planning permission for the scheme.

Afterwards, Finbarr’s tweeted: “Pleased it’s been rejected. Let’s see how quick the appeal is lodged.”

Earlier, owner James O’Leary had pleaded with councillors to protect the 19 full- and 20 part-time jobs at his restaurant, which local county councillor Nigel Martin said was “arguably the best in Durham City”.

Cllr Martin also said Durham was suffering an over-supply of student accommodation and creating a 57-bed student hostel on Waddington Street would be “madness”.

Planning officer Barry Gavillet said the area was already 67 per cent students.

Jackie Levitas, the last non-student resident of Waddington Street, said the hotel and restaurant was a real asset to the city.

Referring to the studentification issue, Cllr David Freeman said there was a clear imbalance in the local community and he hoped the committee would wish to change that over time.

Mr Gavillet said the hotel was well used and no evidence had been submitted showing it was not viable and he recommended planning permission be refused.

The council’s central and east planning committee unanimously rejected the scheme during at meeting at County Hall, Durham, yesterday (Tuesday, November 11).

No-one spoke in favour of the scheme during the debate.

Planning permission has already been granted to expand the hotel, which opened in 2000, from 21 to 50 bedrooms.

Nearby, Gentoo are currently building a new development of 19 large family homes on the former Arriva bus depot and Connislow are building 223 student bedrooms on the former Fred Henderson garage.

Meanwhile, talks are continuing between the council, developers and residents after the inspector leading the County Durham Plan examination in public ordered a new student housing policy be drawn up by Friday (November 14).