Care home near student flats approved after appeal

The care home would be near South College and a nearby bar used by students

Plans to build a care home next to student accommodation have been approved, despite being rejected by a council.

Torsion Care was granted permission for the 74-bed home on land in Mount Oswald, Durham, opposite Durham University's South College, following an appeal.

Claypath and University Medical Group, which runs a GP practice in the area, said the care home would negatively impact its services.

The government's Planning Inspectorate said there was "no clear evidence" the development would create an "overprovision" of elderly housing that would harm other care providers.

Meanwhile, Prof Timothy Luckhurst, principal of South College, said he feared a conflict between student lifestyles and the expectations of families who have placed their aged relatives in residential care, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"I am anxious to ensure that South College students can continue to enjoy student life without inconveniencing or disturbing any neighbours," he said.

The nearby bar is often busy with students and hosts events including graduations and formal dinners.

The care home is set to be built on land at Mount Oswald in Durham

Torsion Care argued its three-storey accommodation would cater for the need for care home beds in the area.

Conservative councillor Patricia Jopling said she was "extremely worried about the doctor provision, which is already over-subscribed".

"We do not need another care home," she told planning committee members.

Durham County Council - which is run as an alliance - rejected the plans in January but the Planning Inspectorate disagreed with the decision.

"The proposal would contribute to the choice of accommodation to suit older people’s changing needs and there is no substantive evidence that in doing so it would undermine wider opportunities for development," it said.

The inspector added the home would "not have a harmful effect on existing elderly housing provision or providers".

Ian Ward, of Torsion Care, applied for costs against the council but his request was refused.