Site Of Former Go North East Bus Garage Picktree Lane Picktree DH3 3SW Data via plota.co.uk

DM/25/01765/FPA - Full Planning Application Approved

Proposal

Erection of a foodstore (Use Class E) with associated access, parking, servicing area and landscaping. Data via plota.co.uk

View original council record ↗Last checked

Application progress

✓
Received
2 Jul 2025
✓
Validated
17 Jul 2025
✓
Consultation
3 Dec 2025
✓
Approved
18 Dec 2025

Approved on 18 Dec 2025 · North Planning Committee · Last checked 14 Oct 2026

Planning committee

Decided by Durham Area Planning Committee (North) on 18 Dec 2025.

Approved

As officers recommended.

  • Officers advised approval because the benefits clearly outweighed minor harms and the proposal complied with planning policies.
  • Residents raised concerns about traffic, noise, privacy, pollution, safety and the town centre, while 43 public letters supported the scheme.
  • The committee approved the application, removing one condition and adding a restriction to limited product-line discount retailing.
Read how the committee decided The proposal, site history, officers’ assessment, public views, speakers, committee debate, vote and decision.

Source: Plota analysis of Durham's committee minutes of 18 Dec 2025.

Documents 56

All documents on the council site ↗

Associated applications 4

Site constraints 3

Coal mining development high risk area
Recorded coal mining features at or near the surface. Most planning applications here need a coal mining risk assessment.
From the Mining Remediation Authority, formerly the Coal Authority. The development high risk area marks recorded coal mining features at or near the surface: mine shafts and adits, shallow workings, mine gas and former opencast sites. Most planning applications there need a coal mining risk assessment; householder applications, changes of use and some minor works are exempt. Mine entry positions come from old plans and can be out by several metres, and unrecorded workings can exist anywhere in the coalfield.
Coal mining risk assessments ↗
Also on the record
Radon affected area, class 2; Inside the Chester-le-Street built-up area.
Not affected
Outside flood zones 2 and 3 · Not green belt · No listed building at the site

Checked on 15 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.

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Important details

Council
Durham
Application type
Full Planning Application
Postcode
DH3 3SW
Received
2 Jul 2025
Validated
17 Jul 2025
Ward
Chester-le-Street North
Case officer
Show
Target decision
19 Dec 2025
Decision
Approved BNG Not Required
Decision date
18 Dec 2025
Decision level
North Planning Committee
Applicant
Show
Agent
Lichfields

How this decision compares

Decided in 154 days from validation, 98 days slower than Durham's median of 56 for full applications. Approved, as 95% of full applications here are.

57%decided within 8 weeks
95%approved
9%go to committee

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

Public comments

13comments received
4 objecting2 neutral7 supporting

54% support · above the UK average of 16%

146 neighbours consulted · Last counted 14 Oct 2026

Read the comments on the council site ↗

Consultation & key dates

Alt. reference
PP-14023468
Planning Portal ref
PP-14023468
Neighbours
10 Dec 2025
Consultation
3 Dec 2025
Comments by
10 Dec 2025
Site or press notice
11 Aug 2025
Statutory expiry
16 Oct 2025
Env. assessment
No
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