Who lives in Framwellgate Moor
The civil parish of Framwellgate Moor covers the village itself plus neighbouring Pity Me and Brasside. The parish had 5,404 residents at the 2011 Census, and a 2018 local report put it at about 6,112. Along Front Street are the Marquis of Granby pub, a listed building, the Salutation Inn and a Co-op, with New College Durham, the city's main further education college, and Framwellgate School nearby. Residential roads include Finchale Road, Lilac Avenue, Beech Road, Westcott Drive and Porter Close.
The 2021 Census for the Framwellgate and Newton Hall ward counted 5,996 households: 58% semi-detached, 19% detached, 11% terraced and 10% flats. 73% were owner-occupied and 35% of households had two or more cars.
Around Westcott Drive and Porter Close (LSOA County Durham 023A), there is more variety: 42% semis, 22% terraced, 20% detached and 16% flats. 77% of homes were owner-occupied, and a fifth were privately rented, many near the college.
What people here usually ask for:
- A drive for a semi that only has a lawn and a path.
- Widening an existing single drive.
- New tarmac or block paving to replace a broken concrete surface.
- Parking for rented houses, arranged by the landlord.
Sand and gravel under the village
The British Geological Survey maps central Framwellgate Moor on glaciofluvial sand and gravel, laid down by meltwater from the ice sheets, over the Pennine Middle Coal Measures. Sand and gravel drains far better than the clay till found in much of Durham, so:
- permeable surfaces such as gravel in a grid, permeable blocks or resin bound work well,
- soakaways are usually effective,
- the sub-base still needs compacting on a membrane, because loose sand ruts under car wheels.
The Environment Agency's flood map shows no mapped flood zone within 300 metres of Westcott Drive, so the centre of the village is in Flood Zone 1.
Permissions
Planning. There is no conservation area near the centre. Listed buildings in the wider area include Aykley Heads (Grade II), the County Police Communication Tower, Dryburn House and the Marquis of Granby*. For a house, a permeable front drive, or one draining to the garden, is permitted development. Impermeable paving over five square metres draining to the road needs planning permission.
Vehicle crossing licence. Durham County Council licenses every new or extended crossing over a pavement or verge. The fee is £171, paid once your contractor is arranged and before the work starts. There is no fee if the council turns the application down. The approval letter lists registered contractors. On Front Street and other busy roads, visibility and bus stops are part of the check. See our dropped kerbs page.
Prices in Framwellgate Moor
For a 30m² drive at Checkatrade's April 2026 UK averages:
| Surface | Per m² | 30m² |
|---|---|---|
| Gravel with a grid | about £60 | roughly £1,800 |
| Tarmac | about £90 | roughly £2,700 |
| Block paving | about £100 | roughly £3,000 |
| Resin bound | about £120 | roughly £3,600 |
On free-draining sand, drainage work is often lighter than on clay, which can trim the cost. Breaking out old concrete, the licence and the crossing are extras.
Which surface? On Framwellgate Moor's sandy ground, gravel in a stabilising grid or resin bound over a permeable base are natural choices, because rain soaks straight through into the sand below. Block paving is a good all-rounder for a semi and easy to repair. Tarmac is hard-wearing and the usual choice where a van or a second car turns on the drive every day. For rented houses near the college, landlords often choose tarmac or block paving because both need very little maintenance between tenancies. Whatever the finish, a firm edge restraint matters more on sand than on clay, because sandy ground lets the edges of a drive spread.
Places near Framwellgate Moor
- Driveways, Pity Me: North along Front Street, a suburban village with newer estates.
- Driveways, Newton Hall: East, a large estate of semis with open-plan fronts.
- Driveways, Neville's Cross: South past the city, on the A167.
Good choices in Framwellgate Moor: tarmacadam, block paved driveways, gravel.
Full list of areas: Full list.
Questions people ask in Framwellgate Moor
Does the sandy ground make a difference?
Yes. Sand and gravel drains well, so permeable drives and soakaways work. You still need a compacted stone sub-base to stop ruts.
Is there a conservation area in Framwellgate Moor?
Not near the centre. A few individual buildings, such as the Marquis of Granby, are listed.
How do I get a dropped kerb?
Apply to Durham County Council. The £171 licence is paid once a contractor is arranged, and there is no fee if it is refused.
Is Framwellgate Moor at risk of flooding?
The centre is in Flood Zone 1, with no mapped flood zone within 300 metres of Westcott Drive.
Sources: ONS Census 2021, Framwellgate and Newton Hall ward and LSOA County Durham 023A (TS044, TS045, TS054 via Nomis); Wikipedia: Framwellgate Moor; Planning Data: conservation areas and listed buildings; BGS Geology Viewer, 1:50,000; Environment Agency flood map for planning; Durham County Council: vehicle access over kerbs; GOV.UK: permeable surfacing of front gardens; Checkatrade driveway cost guide (April 2026).