6-bed HMO conversion at 13 Hall Road, Hebburn

The proposed HMO conversion

Change of use from a dwelling to a six-bedroom house in multiple occupation, with minor external alterations.

“Applicants: Thunderstruck Properties Ltd Proposal: Change of use from Class C3 Dwelling House to Class C4 Six-Bedroom house in multiple occupation and minor external alterations…”

Minutes

A site visit before the meeting

A site visit was carried out beforehand to view the site and consider the objections raised.

“A Site visit was conducted on the 22 nd June 2026. The site visit was carried out with the prior approval of the Chair. The need for the site visit in advance was to view the site and consider the objections to the proposals.”

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Objections received

228 objections and a petition of 1219 signatures were received against the application.

“The Planning Officer delivered a presentation to the committee outlining the contents of the report. An update was provided on representations from members of the public, with the officer advising that 228 objections had been received and also a petition of objection containing 1219 signatures.”

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Who spoke against the scheme

Four objectors raised noise, parking, damage to neighbouring property, loss of a family home and the cumulative impact of nearby HMOs.

The officer's response and members' concerns

The officer said the alterations would not harm the conservation area; members queried the reduced bedroom count, communal space and HMO numbers in the area.

“The officer noted in respect of the conservation area and the visual impact, that the building wasn’t listed and that no harmful impact to the conservation area or visual amenity would arise from the small-scale external alterations was proposed.”

“A member asked how the landlord managed the property and tenants, it was noted that this wasn’t a planning consideration and that as the HMO would require a licence, matters of day- to-day management would be regulated through the licensing regime. That member also raised concerns around the lack of on-site communal space and damage to neighbouring properties as a result of building works. Officers advised that issues related to structural damage were not a planning matter.”

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The vote

A motion to approve found no seconder; a motion to refuse was then carried 12 votes to 1.

“The application was proposed to be accepted by Cllr Blair, however, there was not a seconder for this motion.”

“The application was proposed to be refused by Cllr Ford and seconded by Cllr Owens- Palmer. A vote was carried with a vote of 12 to 1 to refuse the application for the following reason:”

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The reasons for refusal

Refusal was based on harm to local character, community cohesion and residential amenity from the increased intensity of use in a family housing area.

“The Local Planning Authority considers that the proposed change of use to a House in Multiple Occupation would, as a consequence of the increased intensity of residential use that would arise in a location which is a quiet and primarily family housing area, impact harmfully upon such local character, community cohesion and upon the residential amenity of existing nearby occupiers.”

Minutes