Yes to new house and no to HMO: Decisions from Middlesbrough Council planning committee

Daniel Hodgson
·3-min read
Middlesbrough Town Hall
-Credit: (Image: Daniel Hodgson)


Plans for a new house were accepted by councillors but a proposed HMO for seven occupants was given the boot.

Middlesbrough Council’s Planning and Development Committee met on November 7 and approved the part pedestrianisation of a road outside a Wetherspoons. The committee also confirmed that a previously rejected plan for a house in the Linthorpe Conservation Area could go ahead.

Council officers had previously refused planning permission for the house in the Park ward in 2022. Since then, many changes have been made to the plans and council officers advised councillors to grant planning permission.

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The current proposal was “for the demolition of the existing detached bungalow and garage and for the erection of a two and a half storey detached five bedroomed property with detached single garage.” The neighbour consultation exercise resulted in six objections and two letters of support.

When it came to councillors discussing their views, Labour Councillor David Branson couldn’t see what the objections were about, and Middlesbrough Independent Councillors Association (MICA) Councillor Ian Morrish, said: “Personally I see [the current proposal] as an improvement”.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Morgan McClintock drew laughter when he said: “I don’t think I’ve ever said this before in planning committee but I’d like to commend the officers”.

He added: “Clearly at each stage it’s improved and improved again and I am also delighted at the relationship between the officers and the agent working together to improve it. If only we saw that in every case, our lives would be easier and Middlesbrough would be the beneficiary.”

Conservative Councillor David Coupe associated himself with the comments made and Independent Councillor Joan McTigue proposed giving the plans the green light, which was then agreed unanimously by the committee’s councillors.

House of Multiple Occupancy (HMO)

The next proposal was more contentious, as the applicant wanted to change a dwelling house into a seven bed house of multiple occupancy (HMO) on Albert Terrace, in the Central ward. There was debate among councillors as to whether a HMO such as this would increase anti-social behaviour in the area.

Multiple councillors suggested accepting the proposals if the number of rooms was reduced from seven down to six, to enable more living space, but chair, Labour Councillor Julia Rostron confirmed that the only two options were acceptance or refusal. Reducing the number of rooms to six would serve as a reason for refusal.

During the discussion, Cllr McTigue and MICA Councillor Graham Wilson voiced support for approval as it would enable people somewhere to live, even if the arrangements were not perfect.

When Andrew Glossop, development and control manager at Middlesbrough Council, asked what the reasons for refusal would be, Labour Councillor Ian Blades stated: “Insufficient parking and the quality of accommodation”. The potential harm from insufficient parking was described as “impact on other residents that live on the street”.

When it came to the vote, the proposal was refused with abstentions from some councillors, going against the recommendations made by officers.

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