A proposal to convert a family home into flats in Darlington faced strong local opposition, leading to its withdrawal.
Darlington: So, there was this plan to change a family home into flats at 49 Eastbourne Road. Dream Property Investments Ltd wanted to turn it into two flats and a three-person HMO. Sounds like a big change, right?
They even planned to add a single-storey extension for a shared lounge and make some internal changes. But the locals weren’t having it.
The application was submitted back in November 2024, but it quickly ran into trouble. Neighbors rallied together and signed a petition against it, with 18 residents voicing their concerns.
They were worried about losing a family home, parking issues, and the noise that might come with more tenants. Angela Allan was particularly vocal, saying it would put more pressure on parking and take away a family home.
Another neighbor, Beth Fisher, chimed in too. She mentioned that the street already had limited parking and adding more flats would just make things worse. Plus, she felt it would disrupt the close-knit community vibe they had going on.
Mr. and Mrs. Carter, who live nearby, shared similar worries about parking. They feared that more cars from the new tenants would just add to the existing problems.
The plans didn’t even include new parking spaces, which seemed like a big oversight. And with the backyard being all concrete, there wasn’t much thought given to biodiversity either.
In the end, the proposal was withdrawn on Tuesday, thanks to all the local pushback. It just goes to show how much a community can come together when they feel strongly about something.
