HMO club plans approved despite petition
GooglePlans to turn a former social club into a house in multiple occupation (HMO) have been given the go-ahead despite opposition.
Hartlepool Borough Council approved plans to turn the now-closed Nalgo club on Westbourne Road into a 12-bedroom HMO.
The plans by Ascend Property Limited were met with a 120-signature petition against them and 16 letters of objections raising concerns about potential anti-social behaviour, noise, parking and traffic issues.
Councillor Carole Thompson said she was "absolutely in favour" of the development, which she hoped would attract young professionals.
During a meeting of the authority's planning panel, Thompson, who represents the Foggy Furze ward where the site is located, said: "The building is massive and it's falling apart, it needs so much doing to it.
"I think it's a wonderful development because of the target audience, it's about the group they're putting in there."
'Need for HMOs'
The meeting also heard the applicant was aiming to house the likes of teachers, engineers and social workers and reference checks would be carried out for tenants, reports the Local Democracy Reporting service.
Each of the bedrooms will have its own en-suite bathroom and there will be two shared kitchen areas, a living room, two communal studies, two laundry rooms and a further communal living area.
A planning statement submitted in support of the application outlined how the development would "bring the property back to life".
It said: "Due to the high proportion of households in this ward being occupied by a single person, there should be demand for HMO properties in the area."