The deferral of a decision on the application to turn the former Portland Hotel into a 122-bed HMO was decided by the chair’s casting vote
A decision on a proposed 122-bed house in multiple occupation (HMO) in Hull has been deferred. London-based Knight Wood Portfolio Limited has proposed converting the former Portland Hotel in Paragon Street in Hull city centre into an HMO.
The building would have bedrooms on the first to sixth floors, and include a number of communal areas, including a gym and cinema room, while the former hotel’s exterior would get a facelift. The hotel closed in 2012, and had an eventful life since, including being the location of a cannabis factory in 2023.
New owners Knight Wood took over since. The proposed HMO includes kitchenette space in each room, and plans for shared kitchen facilities on several locations each floor.
Each floor with have “sufficient facilities to wash and dry their clothes” with an an approximate 1:5 ratio of occupants to machines proposed. There has been notable opposition to the proposal, including St Andrew’s and Docklands Ward Cllrs Leanne Fudge, Haroldo Herrera-Richmond, and Daren Hale, who called the decision in, and an objection lodged by Humberside Police.
It was due to be decided on at Hull City Council‘s latest planning committee meeting. However, councillors were advised officers now recommended deferment to October, “to allow the applicant further opportunity to address the crime issue” raised.
Labour members of the committee opposed deferral, but it was passed on chair Cllr Diana Hatcher’s (Liberal Democrat – Drypool Ward) vote. The deferral comes after a request by Avison Young, agents for the applicant.
Avison Young made the delay request two days before the meeting, stating it wanted to engage with Humberside Police’s designing out crime officer “with the hope of resolving their objection”. “We believe that there is a misunderstanding around the level of management associated with the development, alongside the numerous safety measures proposed which warrant clarification and further discussion,” the request email stated.
An objection letter by Humberside Police’s designing out crime officer, Marc Dias, had stated: “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.” Emma Hardy MP (Labour – Hull West and Haltemprice) has also voiced her “strong objection” to the 122-bed HMO.
In a letter to the council, also two days before the planning meeting was due to be held, she wrote: “The city centre does need regenerating and part of that regeneration should include good quality, affordable accommodation. What it does not need are proposals to cram as many people as possible into the available space.”
An application document contends the 122 bedrooms proposed are “well designed and comfortable HMO rooms”. A decision on the 122-bed HMO is now due at planning on October 1.
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