Apartments to transform old building
50 HOMES FOR ‘YOUNG PROFESSIONALS’ PLANNED
A former city centre hostel will be transformed into 50 apartments after plans were given the go-ahead by councillors this week.
The Tatham Street Hostel building, in Tatham Street, near Mowbray Park, has been on the market since 2014.
In previous years, the 79-bedroom building provided hostel accommodation for Sunderland’s homeless before being acquired by Homes England.
Under new proposals by applicant Cam rex House, the vacant three-storey building will be revamped and offer one-bedroom apartments for “young professionals”.
Sunderland City Council’s Area Development Control Sub-committee rubber stamped the plans which aim to compliment regeneration schemes in the Sunniside area.
During consultation, Sunderland’s Business Improvement District raised fears that the property could be used as a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO).
Councillors, sitting at Sunderland Civic Centre, heard the apartments would be aimed towards “young professionals” with each having its own kitchen, living room, bathroom and bedroom.
Further assurance included a “restrictive covenant” being signed with Homes England restricting any future hostel and HMO uses.
Coun Barbara McClennan, who represents the Hendon ward, noted that concerns had been raised about the planning bid being a “backdoor method to open a hostel or bedsit for unsavoury residents”.
She said : “I was delighted to see that the applicant was actually willing to sign and undertake that it would not, in any shape or form, be turned into either.”
The councillor also questioned management and parking issues for tenants and referenced the site being close to drug services, including a needle exchange.
A planning officer, responding, said any attempt to change the use of the building in future would need new planning permission, which along with the covenant, would serve as “double form of protection”.
The revised application plans to offer 16 off-street car parking spaces – andfrom six and 10 %affordable housing.
Cabinet member for housing and regeneration on the council, Stuart Porthouse, added: “There are fantastic buildings down there and this is a step in the right direction, a step to bring this building into use for something which will help the area.”
A large stained-glass window will be retained on the site along with the front windows to the property.
“Fantastic buildings down there, a step in the right direction” COUN PORTHOUSE