An interim planning policy could soon be implemented across County Durham to prevent an over-concentration of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs).

The interim policy states that further HMOs will not be allowed where any of the 10 nearest properties to the application site are already HMOs. 

That is, there should be no ‘sandwiching’ of a residential property between either two HMO properties or an HMO and a property that is not a home.

The policy also introduces requirements that applications will not be approved where HMOs would make up more than 10% of residential properties within a 100-metre radius of the application site.

The interim policy will apply alongside the existing County Durham Plan. 

Meanwhile the council’s current Article 4 Direction on HMOs will from next month (August) expand beyond Durham City and its surrounding areas, to cover the whole county.

This will mean that planning permission will be required to change any house into an HMO. 

As part of this, the council has developed a planning policy to help councillors decide on whether to approve or reject an HMO application.

This week the council will discuss the potential new policy, following a consultation.

A statement from the authority says: “Many of the responses to the consultation supported greater controls over HMO developments, such as managing their number and improving standards of accommodation.

“Respondents highlighted the loss of family housing, the increased strain and impact on local services, their fears and concerns over community safety, and the need for greater controls and oversight.”

Dawn Bellingham, the communities portfolio holder, says: “We are pleased to see support for this interim policy that is being applied to prevent an over-concentration of HMOs in the county.

“Evidence has shown that they have been steadily increasing outside of the city, and we understand the concern this is causing.”