Controversial Hartlepool homes-to-flats plan approved - despite previous applications being put on hold

Earlier this year proposals were submitted to Hartlepool Borough Council planning department from Home Group to convert a total of 25 homes located across the Clarence Road and West View estates into around 50 flats.

Previously 11 of the applications were called before the council planning committee, with one rejected and the remaining 10 deferred to a future meeting due to crime and anti-social behaviour concerns and councillors wanting to speak to the applicant.

The applications had been referred to the planning committee due to the amount of objections received (more than two), in line with the council’s scheme of delegation.

Now 13 remaining applications, which all did not receive enough objections to take them before the council planning committee, have been approved by council planning officers.

This includes sites at 31, 26, 12 and 8 Greenwood Road , 2 and 10 Milner Grove, 88 and 92 Middleton Road, 53 and 46 Winterbottom Avenue, 6 and 22 Arkley Crescent and 29 Suffolk Close.

The plans come as part of the Homes England ‘Move On’ initiative, which provides funds to convert high turnover and unused houses into quality properties, providing additional smaller units to those in need.

The flats would be particularly targeted at those leaving homelessness services or domestic violence services, according to plans.

Council housing officers noted Hartlepool ‘has a significant and concerning shortage of one bedroom properties’ and an ‘oversupply of two and three bedroom properties’.

They added Home Group have said they have ‘allocated appropriate resources to manage these tenancies’ which will be of an improved condition.

Plans have also been approved to convert 10 Greenwood Road into a hub to provide on-site office space to support customers in nearby properties, while one flat would also be provided on the first floor.

Reports from council planning officer Stephanie Bell concluded the applications which have been approved would all not have a negative impact on the area.

In the reports, she said: “It is considered that the principle of the proposed change of use to two self-contained flats is acceptable.

“It is considered that the proposal would not give rise to adverse impacts upon the visual amenity, neighbour amenity (including any cumulative impact), highway safety, community safety or any other planning matter.

“Furthermore, the proposal would bring a vacant building back into use.”

A design and access statement from RNJ Construction Consultants on behalf of the applicant, previously stated the scheme will have physical and social benefits to Hartlepool.

It said: “Homes England’s Move on Fund is intended to provide necessary accommodation and support to enable independent living, particularly targeted at those leaving homelessness services or domestic violence services.

“Property intervention will deliver regeneration, thereby improving the quality of life for existing and new customers, reducing anti-social behaviour.”

The 10 applications which were deferred by the council planning committee earlier this month will be decided on at a later date when they are back before councillors.

Councillors at the previous meeting raised concerns over the location of the properties and argued it could create a ‘ghetto situation’ in those particular areas.

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