Her Majestys Passport Office Freemans Reach Riverside Place Durham DH1 1SL Data via plota.co.uk

DM/26/01235/FPA - Full Planning Application Approved
Extensions & alterationsUtility infrastructureCommercial premises

Proposal

Installation of guardrails, 3No. step over roof access systems & a roof mounted safety line, 1 new gutter outlet to the west and south elevations, additional coating of single ply roof sheet & new low level steel cable protection to existing guardrails to improve roof safety. Data via plota.co.uk

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View original council record ↗Last checked

Application progress

✓
Received
15 May 2026
✓
Validated
1 Jun 2026
✓
Consultation
2 Jun 2026
✓
Approved
20 Jul 2026

Approved on 20 Jul 2026 · Fast Track · Last checked 20 Jul 2026

Documents 4

Decision & officer reports 1

PDF FAST TRACK Delegated Report · 20 Jul 2026 View ↗

Statements & assessments 1

PDF HERITAGE STATEMENT Supporting Information · 1 Jun 2026 View ↗

Other documents 2

PDF PRESS NOTICE Press Notice · 4 Jun 2026 View ↗ PDF SITE NOTICE Site Notice · 2 Jun 2026 View ↗

All documents on the council site ↗

Site constraints 5

Flood zone 3, rivers and sea
High chance: a 1 in 100 or greater annual chance from rivers, or 1 in 200 from the sea. Any development here needs a flood risk assessment. Defences are not counted.
The Environment Agency flood map for planning. Homes in zone 3 must also pass the sequential test. Surface water flooding is a separate map.
Flood map ↗
Durham City conservation area
Demolition needs planning permission and permitted development is restricted.
The council must give weight to preserving or enhancing the area's character and appearance. Not every council has published its boundaries as open data.
Also on the record
Radon affected area, class 2; Coalfield, development low risk area; Inside the Durham built-up area.
Not affected
Not green belt · No listed building at the site · No scheduled monument at the site

Checked on 6 October 2026. Historic England, the Environment Agency, Natural England, the Mining Remediation Authority, the British Geological Survey and UK Health Security Agency (radon, contains BGS materials © UKRI) and council datasets, Open Government Licence. A boundary can run through a site and the council holds the definitive record: confirm with the council before relying on this.

Building

Floor area6,672 m² (71,817 sq ft)
Energy ratingB (asset rating 50)
UseOffices and Workshop Businesses
HeatingAir Conditioning

From the energy performance certificate lodged in February 2026, the latest held for this property. The building may have changed since. View the certificate

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Important details

Council
Durham
Application type
Full Planning Application
Postcode
DH1 1SL
Received
15 May 2026
Validated
1 Jun 2026
Ward
Elvet, Gilesgate And Shincliffe
Parish
City Of Durham
Case officer
Show
Target decision
27 Jul 2026
Decision
Approved BNG Not Required
Decision date
20 Jul 2026
Decision level
Fast Track
Applicant
Show
Agent
Rider Levett Bucknall

How this decision compares

Decided in 49 days from validation, 5 days faster than Durham's median of 54 for extensions. Approved, as 97% of extensions here are.

73%decided within 8 weeks
97%approved
596decided in the last year

Plota live figures for extensions decided by Durham in the last twelve months, from validation. Durham decision record →

Consultation & key dates

Alt. reference
PP-14877979
Planning Portal ref
PP-14877979
Neighbours
2 Jun 2026
Consultation
2 Jun 2026
Comments by
25 Jun 2026
Site or press notice
3 Jun 2026
Statutory expiry
27 Jul 2026
Env. assessment
No

Historical activity at this location

29 previous applications on record - archival context, not part of the live application.

This property

Previous applications at this address

2021 Approved
Replacement chiller units on roof.
DM/21/02692/FPA
2020 Approved
2No Air Conditioning Condenser Units
DM/20/02081/FPA
2016 Approved
Display of one non illuminated fascia sign on south elevation.
DM/16/02086/AD
2016 Approved
Non material amendment to planning permission CE/13/01559/FPA to include security mesh to…
DM/16/02049/NMA
Within ~100m

Nearby activity

2024 Approved
Durham County Council The Waterside Building Riverside Place Durham DH1 1SL
1no non-illuminated totem sign
DM/24/01199/AD
2024 Approved
Durham County Council The Waterside Building Riverside Place Durham DH1 1SL
1no internally illuminated fascia sign
DM/24/00801/AD
2023 Approved
Premier Inn Freemans Place Durham DH1 1SQ
3 no. internally illuminated fascia signs
DM/23/03636/AD
2023 Approved
Durham University Business School The Waterside Building Riverside Place Durham DH1 1SL
1no internally illuminated sign and 1no non-illuminated sign
DM/23/01952/AD
2023 Approved
Land North Of Wearside House Riverside Place Durham DH1 1SL
Installation of Lampounette public art lighting feature in association with Lumiere
DM/23/00914/FPA
2022 Approved
Durham Sixth Form Centre The Sands Durham DH1 1SG
Provision of 2 no. temporary timber clad modular classroom blocks and newly created footp…
DM/22/01093/FPA
2022 Approved
Freemans Quay Leisure Centre Freemans Place Durham DH1 1SQ
Proposed solar panel installation on roof of leisure centre
DM/22/00052/FPA
2019 Approved
1 Freemans Quay Freemans Place Durham DH1 1SW
5No Non-Illuminated Image Panels
DM/19/02365/AD
2019 Approved
The Sands Carpark And Durham Sixth Form Car Park Site Freemans Place Durham DH1 1SQ
Fell trees T1-T32, T34-T45, T52-T56, T58-T70, T73, T75, T76, fell tree groups G49 (except…
DM/19/01100/TCA
2018 Approved
The Sands Carpark And Durham Sixth Form Car Park Site Freemans Place Durham DH1 1SQ
Erection of office headquarters with associated car parking (inclusive of a multi-storey…
DM/18/02369/FPA
2017 Refused
Freemans Reach Riverside Place Durham DH1 1SL
Erection and display of 1no. self standing sign and 3no. poster panels
DM/17/01605/AD
2023 Approved
Durham University Business School The Waterside Building Riverside Place Durham DH1 1SL
Non-material amendment pursuant to Condition 1 (Approved plans) of Planning Permission No…
DM/23/02485/NMA
2023 Approved
Durham University Business School The Waterside Building Riverside Place Durham DH1 1SL
Non-material amendment pursuant to Condition 1 (approved plans) of Planning Permission No…
DM/23/00950/NMA
2022 Approved
Durham County Council The Waterside Building Riverside Place Durham DH1 1SL
Discharge of Condition 11 (Travel Plan) of Planning Permission DM/20/03394/VOC
DRC/22/00074
2021 Approved
The Sands Carpark And Durham Sixth Form Car Park Site Freemans Place Durham DH1 1SQ
Various design amendments to DM/20/03394/VOC
DM/21/02162/NMA
2022 Approved
The Sands Carpark And Durham Sixth Form Car Park Site Freemans Place Durham DH1 1SQ
Part discharge of condition 12 (Phase 4 verification) of DM/20/03394/VOC in relation to H…
DRC/22/00002
2021 Approved
The Sands Carpark And Durham Sixth Form Car Park Site Freemans Place Durham DH1 1SQ
Non-material amendment to planning approval DM/20/03394/VOC to allow the relocation of HQ…
DM/21/04009/NMA
2021 Approved
The Sands Carpark And Durham Sixth Form Car Park Site Freemans Place Durham DH1 1SQ
Discharge of condition 8 (CHP, biomass & boiler plant) and 10 (cycle and smoking shelters…
DRC/21/00166
2021 Approved
Durham County Council Headquarters Freemans Quay Freemans Place Durham DH1 1SQ
Discharge of condition 17 (MSCP management plan) of planning application reference DM/20/…
DRC/21/00304
2021 Approved
The Sands Carpark And Durham Sixth Form Car Park Site Freemans Place Durham DH1 1SQ
Discharge of condition 3 (MSCP land contamination) of DM/20/03394/VOC
DRC/21/00348
2021 Approved
The Sands Carpark And Durham Sixth Form Car Park Site Freemans Place Durham DH1 1SQ
Discharge of condition 4 (Drainage) pursuant to DM/20/03394/VOC
DRC/21/00156
2020 Approved
The Sands Carpark And Durham Sixth Form Car Park Site Freemans Place Durham DH1 1SQ
Variation of conditions 1 (approved plans) and 7 (lighting) of planning permission DM/20/…
DM/20/03394/VOC
2021 Approved
Durham County Council Headquarters Freemans Quay Freemans Place Durham DH1 1SQ
Amendment to the wording of condition 4 (drainage) of planning permission DM/20/00702/VOC
DM/21/00810/NMA
2020 Approved
The Sands Carpark And Durham Sixth Form Car Park Site Freemans Place Durham DH1 1SQ
Discharge of condition 7 (roof terrace lighting) pursuant to DM/20/00702/VOC
DRC/20/00381
2020 Withdrawn
Durham County Council Headquarters Freemans Quay Freemans Place Durham DH1 1SQ
Discharge of condition 3 (gas protection measures) pursuant to DM/20/00702/VOC
DRC/20/00422
Durham
Planning Authority Score
5.2/10
Average
#137 of 296 councils
Relevant to this application:
Householder decisions

Durham ranks #190 out of 296 councils for householder decision speed. 48% of applications have the time limit extended, above the 41% national average. Householder applications are more likely to be approved here than most councils, with a 97% approval rate vs 90% nationally.

More permissive than most councils
97% approved vs 90% nationally
These figures are council-wide context, not a prediction for this application. View full council performance
Durham decision statistics
Based on MHCLG data, the year to March 2026
93%
Overall approval rate
Above avg (87%) #52 of 296
97%
Householder approved
Above avg (90%) #29 of 296
59%
Decided in 8 weeks
Below avg (63%) #190 of 296
48%
Extended time limit
Above avg (41%) #213 of 296
79%
Minor dwellings approved
95 decided (1-9 homes)
90%
Major dwellings approved
49 decided (10+ homes)
87%
Change of use approved
201 decided
1,706
Total decisions
113 refused in the year to March 2026
Source: MHCLG planning statistics · See full council rankings

Freehold boundary: © Crown copyright and database rights 2026, HM Land Registry. Polygons © Crown copyright and database rights 2026 Ordnance Survey 100026316. Conditions of use

Energy performance: Energy performance certificates from the Energy Performance of Buildings Register, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright 2026.