Plans to open hotel and guest house in residential Hartlepool street are refused

An application was submitted earlier this year to Hartlepool Borough Council’s planning department to convert a four-bedroomed house at 95 Cornwall Street into a hotel, operating with six separate bedsits.

Submitted by Aderemilekun Agbonin, from Johnremms Property Services, plans stated the site would cater for individual short term lets of no more than 90 days.

Yet a report from council senior council planning officer Laura Alderson has confirmed the proposals have been refused, adding they are not in keeping with the area.

She said: “The proposed development would see the introduction of a main town centre use in a residential area outside of the town centre or any other designated centre identified within the Local Plan.

“It is considered the proposed use would be inappropriate in a residential area and would increase the level of activity to the detriment of the amenity of neighbouring occupiers.”

Concerns had also been raised by other council officers that the property may have ended up being used as a house in multiple occupation (HMO).

A response from Hartlepool Borough Council’s environmental health manager for housing Joanne Burnley said: “I would just like to place on record my concerns about the use of this property as a hotel.

“In my opinion, the likelihood is that this is more likely to be occupied as a House in Multiple Occupation due to its location and layout, which would require it to be licensed.”

Four objections had also been submitted to the plans by residents, raising similar concerns, along with worries it could increase crime and parking issues in the area.

A planning statement from Dami Lapite, agent on behalf of the applicant, said: “The proposal is to operate as a hotel/guest bedsits where no significant element of care is provided.

“The intention is that the proposal will operate as a hotel/guest house, open to the general public with individual short term lets no more than 90 days.

“The intended number of occupants is a minimum of one person per bedsit up to a maximum of two persons per bedsit. We estimate 12 no persons at maximum capacity.”