Durham County Council has approved plans to change 18 St Nicholas Drive from a four-bedroom house into a house in multiple occupation (HMO). Four parking spaces and cycle storage must be provided before tenants move in. Residents said the cul-de-sac already suffers from heavy on-street parking and warned extra cars linked to the house could cause further congestion. Council officers said four spaces met the parking requirement for a six-bedroom property, while the highways authority did not object. The permission comes with conditions, including soundproofing, rules for tenants, and restrictions on construction work, which must begin within three years.