Labour Party councillors have raised concerns over plans to convert a former city centre hotel into a giant 122-bed HMO.
Plans were recently submitted to Hull City Council to convert the currently vacant former Portland Hotel on Paragon Street. If approved, the HMO would have rooms across six storeys, with each room having its own kitchenette area. The works would also include a refreshing of the building’s exterior
Councillors shared their concerns on the ‘St Andrew’s and Docklands Labour’ Facebook page after plans for the mammoth HMO were revealed. The St Andrew’s and Docklands ward on Hull City Council is represented by three councillors, all who represent the Labour Party, they are Cllr Leanne Fudge, Cllr Haroldo Herrera-Richmond, and the leader of the Hull Labour Group, Cllr Daren Hale.
The post states: “Cllr Leanne Fudge and your local Labour Councillors have “called-in” plans for a 122 bedded House in Multiple Occupation on the site of the former Paragon Hotel in Hull City Centre to be decided by the council’s Planning Committee and not council officers.”
The post goes on to say: “The site is currently an eyesore, but Cllr Fudge wants guarantees over the plans and a close look at the facilities available on the site to ensure that the current problem is not just replaced by a new one.”
The post concludes: “Hull Labour has recently slammed HMOs, where national “legal room sizes” for a bedroom are no bigger than a North Sea Ferry Cabin!”
The proposals drew a mixed reaction on social media with one Hull Live reader posting on our Facebook page: “Why HMOs? Why not make them into nice flats.” Whilst, in a similar ilk, another said: “Surely there are more than enough in Hull? The city is dying, it’s overflowing with HMOs.”
However, another reader posted: “Great idea! It’ll look really nice once done and hopefully bring more people to the area to boost trade.”
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