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Planning application

55 Orchard Drive Durham DH1 1LA

Awaiting decision County Durham DM/26/01362/CEU Certificate of Lawfulness Existing Use

Still open. Anyone can comment while the consultation period runs, and comments go to the council rather than to us.

Proposal

The property has been continuously occupied as a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) by 3 to 6 unrelated individuals who share basic communal amenities, falling within Planning Use Class C4. This C4 use was fully established prior to the implementation of the Durham City Article 4 Direction on 16 September 2016 and has been continuously maintained without interruption down to the present day. A Certificate of Lawfulness is therefore sought to confirm that the existing Class C4 use is lawful

As published by the council, reference DM/26/01362/CEU

Application record

Reference
DM/26/01362/CEU
Type
Certificate of Lawfulness Existing Use
Status
Pending Decision
Received
29 May 2026
Validated
4 Jun 2026
Ward
Elvet, Gilesgate And Shincliffe
Parish
City Of Durham
Decision by
Delegated
Postcode
DH1 1LA

Timeline

Dates from the published record

  1. 29 May 2026

    Received by County Durham

  2. 4 Jun 2026

    Validated

    Checked as complete and ready for consideration.

  3. 20 Jul 2026

    Added to PlanIndex

  4. Decision

    Awaiting decision

    Decision expected by 30 July 2026, 8 weeks from validation under the statutory target for most applications. Extensions of time are common and are agreed case by case.

    County Durham took a median of 56 days over the applications it decided in the last year.

Documents

Plans, drawings, consultee responses and the officer's report

10 documents on file for this application

A planning file usually holds the application form, drawings and site plans, consultee responses, the officer's report and the decision notice.

Trade members open them from here.

Open the documents

What happens while it is decided

This application is with County Durham for determination, against a statutory target of eight weeks. Over the last year County Durham decided lawful development applications in a median of 60 days. More in our guide to how long planning decisions take.

About lawful development applications

A lawful development certificate is a legal determination that existing or proposed works do not need planning permission; the merits of the scheme are not considered. More in our guide to planning application types.

Nearby applications

Within 500 metres

  • 57 Orchard Drive Durham DH1 1LA

    DM/26/01363/CEU Submitted 29 May 2026 17m away

    The property has been continuously occupied as a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) by 3 to 6 unrelated individuals who share basic communal amenities, falling within Planning Use Class C4. This C4 use was fully established prior to the implementation of the Durham City Article 4 Direction on 16 September 2016 and has been continuously maintained without interruption down to the present day. A Certificate of Lawfulness is therefore sought to confirm that the existing Class C4 use is lawful Certificate of lawfulness for

    Granted Lawful development 9 docs

  • 44 Orchard Drive Durham DH1 1LA

    DM/25/02398/NMA Submitted 29 Aug 2025 48m away

    98% historically approved · decision due ~27 Oct

    Non-material amendment pursuant to planning approval DM/23/00394/FPA comprising additional window to existing bathroom and garden room in matching fenestration

    Awaiting decision Amendments Windows or glazing 8 docs

  • 44 Orchard Drive Durham DH1 1LA

    DM/24/02413/FPA Submitted 2 Sep 2024 48m away

    Removal of existing conservatory and canopy to the rear of the property with installation of new balustrade, replacement of window and door to front and application of infill composite cladding, installation of 2no. new windows to the side and associated external works.

    Granted Full applications Extension Windows or glazing 27 docs

  • 28 Orchard Drive Durham DH1 1LA

    DM/26/01734/TCA Submitted 6 Jul 2026 73m away

    Silver Birch (T1) - felling and removal

    Granted Trees 2 docs

  • 30 Orchard Drive Durham DH1 1LA

    DM/22/03548/CEU Submitted 29 Nov 2022 74m away

    Certificate of lawfulness for a change of use from C3 to C4 use class

    Granted Lawful development 7 docs

  • Travel Lodge Station Lane Gilesgate Durham DH1 1LJ

    DM/24/02141/TCA Submitted 2 Aug 2024 141m away

    Crown Lifting to 4m above ground level and cutting back of trees adjacent to exit road (Station Lane)

    Granted Trees 4 docs

In County Durham

  • DM/26/01703/CPO Granted

    Aycliffe Village Primary School North Terrace Aycliffe Village Newton Aycliffe DL5 6LG

    Installation of timber playground equipment.

    2 Jul 2026 Lawful development
  • DM/26/01615/CPO Withdrawn

    Spital Park Farm Stainmore Road Bowes Barnard Castle DL12 9RH

    Application for a lawful development certificate for a proposed Met Office installation of a new weather station enclosure (10 metres by 9 metres by 1.2 metres) with meteorological equipment, including a 10 metre collapsible WEC WD10 mast with an anemometer and windvane on the top (with concrete plinth base of 1.8 metres by 2.2 metres).

    23 Jun 2026 Lawful development
  • DM/26/01399/CPO Granted

    28 Moor Edge Crossgate Moor Durham DH1 4HT

    Certificate of Proposed Development for a hip to gable conversion to form loft conversion with rear dormer

    2 Jun 2026 Lawful development
  • DM/26/01072/CEU Refused

    21 Young Street Gilesgate Durham DH1 2JU

    Certificate of lawfulness for use of the property as a House in Multiple Occupation (Use class C4).

    23 Apr 2026 Lawful development
  • DM/26/02031/CPO Awaiting decision

    82 Barley Mill Road Bridgehill Consett DH8 8JR

    Certificate of Lawfulness for the demolition of two rear offshot extensions and replacement with one larger lean to extension.

    4 Aug 2026 Lawful development