Police express caution over housing plan
GooglePolice have expressed "reservations" over a 30-bed housing application.
Plans lodged with Redcar and Cleveland Council involve the conversion of former pub Old Station Arms, in South Bank, Middlesbrough, into 30 self-contained bedsits.
Attempting to address potential community concerns, plans said a CCTV system would be in place with secure entry points to the building and regular on-site management at the house in multiple occupation (HMO).
Officer Steve Cranston said a good management plan was "essential", because "HMOs that are poorly managed and badly maintained can put an extra burden on local services".
A submitted planning statement said the site was a redundant industrial building and its conversion would provide a "cost-effective and high-quality solution" to the lack of affordable rental properties in the area.
An existing access off Tilbury Road would be used with 13 car parking spaces being added as well as bike and bin storage, the Local Democracy Reporting News Service said.
A statement of community involvement said the building would "undergo significant refurbishment" and provide adequate facilities for future residents.
HMOs in proximity
Sufficient off-street parking spaces for residents would not lead to any increase in traffic congestion, the statement said.
Cleveland Police officer Steve Cranston said the force had "reservations".
He said: "HMOs can bring specific issues simply due to concentrating more single adults into a dwelling than an average household."
He said a good management plan, permission be granted, was "essential" with the existence of other HMOs in close proximity potentially exacerbating any issues.
A public consultation runs until the end of February.
Several HMOs in the South Bank ward have been granted planning permission in recent years to house contractors working on the nearby Teesworks industrial site.