71 Saddler Street Durham DH1 3NP Data via plota.co.uk

DM/26/00092/FPA - Full Planning Application Pending Decision

Proposal

Change of use of top floors of retail unit (Use Class E) to 6-bedroom house in multiple occupation (HMO)(Use Class C4) including; internal reconfiguration, installation of secondary glazing, and replacement of existing roof over rear entrance area Data via plota.co.uk

View original council record ↗Last checked

Application progress

✓
Received
13 Jan 2026
✓
Validated
14 Jan 2026
✓
Consultation
6 Aug 2026
Decision
Expected by 2 Oct 2026

Under consideration

No decision has been issued yet. Plota predicted a decision soon after comments close on 20 Aug 2026; it is now day 268.

The consultation period closed on 20 Aug 2026.

Site constraints 7

Grade II listed: 71 and 72, Saddler Street
List entry 1161243 · 3 m away · 62 more listed buildings within 150 m (8 Grade I, 4 Grade II*, 50 Grade II)
Listed building consent is needed for work that affects the special interest of a listed building, inside or out, on top of planning permission. Setting can be a consideration for buildings nearby; there is no fixed radius.
Show the other 62 with distances
Historic England ↗
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 ↗
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.
Scheduled monument 81 m away: Elvet Bridge
Its setting is a consideration for work nearby.
Nationally important archaeology protected by the Secretary of State. Work that affects the monument or its setting is rarely permitted.
Historic England ↗
World heritage site 62 m away: Durham Castle and Cathedral
Its setting is a consideration for work nearby.
Registered parks and gardens, battlefields, world heritage sites and protected wrecks are designated heritage assets: harm needs clear and convincing justification.
Historic England ↗
Also on the record
Radon affected area, class 2; Inside the Durham built-up area.
Not affected
Outside flood zones 2 and 3 · Not green belt

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 area436 m² (4,693 sq ft)
Energy ratingE (asset rating 105)
UseRetail/Financial and Professional Services
HeatingHeating and Natural Ventilation

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 3NP
Received
13 Jan 2026
Validated
14 Jan 2026
Ward
Elvet, Gilesgate And Shincliffe
Parish
City Of Durham
Case officer
Show
Target decision
2 Oct 2026
Decision level
Delegated
Applicant
Show
Agent
Musson Brown Architects
Freehold owner
Show

Decision outlook

Day 268, past the statutory target. 80% of changes of use in Durham are decided within thirteen weeks; extensions of time are common, and the council need not decide on the day. Last seen undecided on 7 Oct 2026.

Day 268212 days past the 56-day target
50%decided within 8 weeks
86%approved
13%go to committee

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

Public comments

No public comments yet.

31 neighbours consulted · Last counted 7 Oct 2026

Read the comments on the council site ↗

Consultation & key dates

Alt. reference
PP-14620013
Planning Portal ref
PP-14620013
Neighbours
19 Jan 2026
Consultation
6 Aug 2026
Comments by
20 Aug 2026
Site or press notice
21 Jan 2026
Statutory expiry
11 Mar 2026
Env. assessment
No
Durham
Planning Authority Score
5.2/10
Average
#137 of 296 councils
Relevant to this application:
Change of use

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

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.

Freehold owner: Information produced by HM Land Registry. © Crown copyright 2026. Source: HM Land Registry, UK and overseas companies that own property in England and Wales, September 2026 release.