Six-bed HMO proposal in Hartlepool Street shelved
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Planning application for a HMO conversion in Tankerville Street Hartlepool withdrawn before decision..
24th Feb 2026
Plans to convert a property in Hartlepool into a six-bedroom house in multiple occupation have been withdrawn, bringing an abrupt halt to a retrospective planning application that's reportedly drawn objections from nearby residents.
The proposal to change the use of 27 Tankerville Street, where the building had already been internally reconfigured from two self-contained flats into a six-bed HMO without permission from the local council have now been withdrawn with no reasons given. The plans, submitted on behalf of BNL Property Ltd, sought retrospective consent for the change of use on the property and was supported by a detailed planning statement which argued that the development would provide “high-quality accommodation for professionals and students” in a sustainable town-centre location.
Planning documents described the property as a traditional mid-terrace within a street characterised by a mix of housing types, including existing flats and converted dwellings. The applicant maintained that the intensification of use would not harm the character of the area, pointing out that the exterior of the building had been left unaltered and that all six bedrooms met national space standards for licensed HMOs.
The plans also stressed that the council’s licensing team had already approved the house for HMO use under housing legislation, confirming that it met safety and amenity requirements. The operator said its business model focused on students and working professionals, with a management regime involving tenant vetting, inspections and a 24-hour contact number for neighbours.
However, the plans had prompted some concern from nearby residents, with a formal objection received to the local council highlighting what they described as an already “untenable” parking situation, especially at weekends. The objectors warned that increasing the number of occupants would intensify competition for—from— for on-street spaces and would disproportionately affect vulnerable residents who rely on parking close to their homes.
They told the council that finding a space near their property was 'frequently impossible', particularly during evenings and weekends, and argued that the additional comings and goings associated with a six-bed HMO would worsen the problem and damage quality of life for those with mobility difficulties.
Within the planning statement, the applicant had contended that the shift away from two flats to six bedrooms would not significantly increase parking demand, citing the likely tenant profile and the site’s proximity to the town centre and public transport links.
The retrospective nature of the application was also said to have been attributed to what the agent described as a failure during the conveyancing process to identify that planning permission was required for the conversion works, which had already been completed in the belief they fell within permitted development rights.
The withdrawal means the local council will now no longer determine the proposal, leaving the future planning status of the altered property unresolved & lead to possible enforcement action against the developers if the unapproved HMO was to be used in its current state.
The latest case highlights the continuing tension in parts of Hartlepool, where older terraced properties are being carved up into houses of Multiple Occupancy, where the reuse of existing housing for shared accommodation, whilst promoted in policy as a sustainable way of boosting supply is frequently meeting increasing resistance from local residents concerned about parking pressure and the impact those properties are having on local communities.
