Another Controversial HMO Planned as Hartlepool Sees Surge in the Number of HMO's Being Granted....

3-5 Scarborough Street in Hartlepool set to become yet another Controversial HMO

The plans (if approved) would be the third controversial House of Multiple Occupation approved in just weeks, as the number of the controversial developments being granted approval by the unelected Hartlepool Development Corporation comes under the spotlight !

12th Feb 2025

(Edited 13th Feb 07:05am)

Plans have been submitted for yet another town property to be converted into a controversial House of Multiple Occupancy (HMO), raising fresh concerns over the alarming rate at which these developments are being approved across Hartlepool.

The latest proposal has been put forward to the unelected and unaccountable Hartlepool Development Corporation (HDC), seeking permission to change the use of 3-5 Scarborough Street, located just a short distance away from the towns Church Street, and comes just days after the HDC approved two other controversial applications from property developers, sparking serious questions about who these properties are actually intended for.

A Building in Disrepair or Another Profit-Driven Venture?

Scarborough Street in Hartlepool has seen a number of controversial HMO developments being approved in the last year, & all owned by the same property developer...

According to a planning statement submitted by Wardman Brown Architectural Services on behalf of the applicant Anthony Sewell, the property is currently in a state of disrepair and was previously occupied by an accounting firm, which has since relocated.

The new owner, now proposes converting the building into eight one-person, Category A units—a move that has only deepened local scepticism over their intended future use.

Are These Really for Students? Or Something Else?

Two other HMO developments were just approved within the last week. sparking questions over just why Hartlepool needs so many of these controversial HMO schemes ?

With the HDC approving HMOs at whats said to be "an unprecedented rate", many residents fear these developments won't actually be used as student accommodation, despite claims made by several developers in previous applications.

Critics argue that once approved, there is no legal guarantee that developers will rent these units to students, raising concerns that many could instead be used for asylum housing—a highly contentious issue in Hartlepool.

Profits Over Community Concerns?

Beyond the debate over who will occupy these HMOs, poorly managed multiple-occupancy properties are a major concern for many local residents & has been raised several times by Cleveland Police in numerous responses to applications put before committees. .

As the number of HMO approvals continues to climb, people are increasingly questioning whether these developments are truly about housing students—or if they're simply a money-making scheme for wealthy developers, who will fill them with anyone willing to pay the rent, regardless of their potential impact on the local community.

What do you think ?

Are all the HMO's in Hartlepool being granted approval really going to be used as Student Accommodation ?

• YES
• NO