They say it will provide ‘really high quality space for working professional’
The developers behind plans for a colossal HMO in Hull city centre have addressed the concerns of local politicians who fear the plans could lead to overcrowding and a rise in antisocial behaviour. Earlier this year, plans were submitted to Hull City Council to turn the former Portland Hotel on Paragon Street into a 122-bed House in Multiple Occupation.
Soon after the application emerged, local politicians – including the three ward councillors and the local MP – raised concerns over the plans. The site is within Hull City Council‘s St Andrew’s and Docklands ward which is represented by three Labour Party councillors, Cllr Leanne Fudge, Cllr Haroldo Herrera-Richmond, and the leader of the Hull Labour Group, Cllr Daren Hale. All three councillors, as well as the area’s MP, Emma Hardy, have spoken against the application.
Ms Hardy has backed a petition calling for the plans to be rejected, with the MP taking to social media to say: “This plan risks overcrowding and a rise in anti-social behaviour. Instead, we support the creation of good quality, affordable homes which supports the shared ambition of everyone in Hull to vibrantly regenerate our city centre.”
However, speaking to the Hull Live, James Shepherd, Director at Knight Wood Portfolio, the applicant behind the plans, has addressed these concerns whilst putting forward arguments in favour of the plans. Mr Shepherd explained that turning the building into self contained flats “was not an option” financially, and argued there is lack of demand in the area to restore the building to its former use as a hotel.
He added: “What we really want to do is co-living but there’s no guidance from Hull Council around what constitutes a co-living development in Hull. But there is guidance for HMO, and they are very similar so we went down the HMO route because it was the only route to go down. But obviously it’s not a typical HMO, its got concierge, a private gym, cinema rooms, it’s a really high quality space for working professionals and it works well with the structure of the building.”
Since the application was initially submitted, the plans have been reduced to 109 rooms down from the original 122. Mr Shepherd explained that the reduction has come from units on the first floor being made more accessible for wheelchair users.
He addressed concerns that have been shared online by members of the public that the building could be used to house asylum seekers. He said: “That is not our intention. We have written to Hull City Council‘s planning department saying that we want that to be a condition in any possible planning application.”
Mr Shepherd accused the local Labour politicians of turning the application into a political issue. Responding directly to Ms Hardy’s objection, Mr Shepherd claimed: “The reason she’s against is because of what a lot of the public have said, the concerns about it housing asylum seekers. I would ask her to look at the merits of the development and consider the constraints of the site.
“It’s not financially viable to turn it into flats, so what other options do we have for the building? It’s easy to come out and say ‘I think that’s going to be overcrowded’, well please give me a better suggestion because I can’t think of one.” He added that he had sent an email to Ms Hardy asking to discuss the plans but has not had a response.
In response to this Ms Hardy has said: “I have no record of any emails from anyone involved in this development. My position remains unchanged: a 122-bed HMO in the city centre is concerning. If the developer wishes to contact me to discuss the possibility of affordable flats instead, I would be happy to meet with them.”
Cllr Hale has said he “resents” Mr Shepherd’s claim that local Labour politicians have tried to politicise the issue, arguing that “in the fifth richest country on Earth, people shouldn’t have to live in a shoebox.” Cllr Hale added that the development works on an “extraction model” by “packing as many people in as possible” and added that as the local planning authority, the council has a duty to prevent “a race to the bottom.”
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