After years of delay the Council has finally approved new policies which will give it powers to ensure we can try to maintain a balanced community in Durham City between permanent residents and student houses.

What is called an “Article 4 Direction” will allow better control new houses of multiple accommodation and a policy on purpose built student accommodation could stop further unnecessary blocks of flats being built.

Against opposition from the local community and local Cllrs David Freeman and Richard Ormerod, the Labour Council has already approved over 4000 new student flats when (at least until 2020) Durham University is only planning for a slight increase in numbers. There is no noticeable demand from students who live in houses in the city or those who are in college to live in these new flats which are both expensive and have none of the benefits of actually living in college.