The plans were narrowly approved by the council’s planning committee
An application to turn the former Portland Hotel on Paragon Street into a 109-bed HMO has been approved by Hull City Council. The council’s planning committee narrowly approved the plans by 6 votes to 5 during a meeting held on December 3.
The application, which was initially submitted as a 122-bed HMO, has been of hot debate in the city in recent months. The, now approved plans will see the former hotel being repurposed into city centre residential units with a small kitchenette in each room.
After being submitted earlier in the year, the plans soon came to the attention of local Labour Party politicians. The three ward councillors and the area’s MP, Emma Hardy, all opposed the development on a number of grounds.
Humberside Police had initially objected to the plans with the force’s designing out crime officer writing: “Some academic research does appear to find a proliferation of HMOs can in part increase the potential for violence due to the particular stresses and insecurities of living in low-quality, crowded accommodation, with shared facilities and little to no choice of co-habitees.” This objection was later withdrawn after further security details were discussed with the developer.
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Letters from both Cllr Daren Hale and the Hull West and Haltemprice MP, Emma Hardy were read aloud during the meeting. Cllr Hale’s letter suggested HMO policies were never intended for such large developments. Ms Hardy had also previously backed a petition calling for the development to be rejected.
During the meeting, James Shepherd, Director at applicant Knight Wood Portfolio, addressed concerns about the site’s potential use. He told the committee: “We are aware there has been some concerns that the building will be used to house asylum seekers. I can confirm this development will be for local working professionals.”
Backing the plans, Lib Dem Cllr Terry Keal said: “If this application doesn’t go through, what are we going to be left with? A building that’s falling down, that’s going to cost the council millions of pounds to shift. This is an ideal opportunity.”
Ultimately the committee voted in line with officers’ recommendations for conditional approval by 6 votes to 5. The payment of a £1160 open space contribution is a condition of the approval.