Durham care home to become student flats despite row

Durham County Council’s planning committee voted to turn down the application from Unity Living in June 2025, warning that the extra purpose-built student accommodation was not needed.  

But the developer, which said its bid to transform Durham’s Hallgarth Care Home into 48 studio bedspaces would ease local housing pressures, appealed the council’s decision.  

Now, a planning inspector has approved the plans. 

The former Hallgarth Care Home will be converted into studio bedspaces for students. (Image: The Northern Echo)

In its ruling, the government said: “The proposed purpose-built student accommodation would not harm the objective of creating, or maintaining, a mixed and balanced community.”

Unity Living said the development would also meet the needs of the increasing proportion of disabled students studying at the university.  

The planning inspector also agreed with the developer’s statement that the facility would provide additional choice for international students, those who are neurodivergent and students who require accessible accommodation. 

A previous proposal to convert the building into 69 apartments was refused in November 2023 and later failed at appeal amid concerns that there are more students than permanent residents in Durham City.  

Unity Living warned that any further setbacks with the development would impact the wider city area.

“It is clear that such an outcome would have wider implications on the city and county as a whole, given the key role played by Durham University in the local economy, as well as the cultural and heritage offer of the City,” an appeal statement added. 

But the city’s parish council had repeatedly objected to the plans for the site near the university, labelling the development “unacceptable” and adding that it would have “no benefit” to the city or its residents.  

(Image: City of Durham Parish Council)

During the initial planning process, the council and other objectors raised concerns about the amount of shared housing in the area, adding that the proposed scheme would harm the objective of creating a mixed and balanced community. 

Mary Kelly Foy, City of Durham MP, also objected. 

“Given that this area already has issues with the number of people moving through the streets at ‘unsociable hours’, it seems that the introduction of a PBSA would only exacerbate this issue and have an impact on their quality of life,” the Labour MP said. 

A public hearing to discuss the appeal was held at Durham Town Hall in March. 

But the planning inspector ruled in favour of the applicant. 

A decision report added: “Several representations raised concerns regarding the loss of the use of the building as a care home. However, the building was last used as a care home in 2023, and has since remained vacant.”