Planners ignore calls to block new Jarrow HMO - plans get green light
Plans approved for four-bedroom house in multiple occupation in Jarrow despite public opposition.
Plans for a new four-bedroom house in multiple occupation (HMO) in the Jarrow area have been approved, despite dozens of public objections.
South Tyneside Council's planning department has approved plans to convert 54 Kent Street in the borough's Monkton ward to a shared HMO property type.
This includes multiple households living across four en-suite bedrooms along with a communal living and kitchen area and cycle parking facilities.
The application follows South Tyneside Council's decision last year to launch an “immediate” borough-wide Article 4 Direction removing permitted development rights for small HMOs, which means planning permission is now needed for all HMOs.
It confirmed the bedrooms would be single occupancy and that the proposed accommodation "significantly exceeds national minimum space standards".
Occupation is ‘not materially different from a typical family’
Those behind the HMO plan added that the "level of occupation (four individuals) is not materially different from a typical family household" and that "the layout includes a generous communal space, supporting internalised activity and reducing disturbance".
On highways and parking matters, applicants also said the scale of occupation would be "unlikely to generate parking demand beyond that of a typical dwelling."
During a council public consultation exercise on the HMO there was public opposition, with around 40 objections submitted.
Public concerns, summarised in a council report, included the "overconcentration of HMOs", impacts on the "family-oriented character of the area" and parking issues, as well as concerns about "transient residents and high tenant turnover", noise and antisocial behaviour.
After considering the planning application however, South Tyneside Council's planning department approved the HMO on June 1, 2026.
A council decision report said the “greatest weight” in deciding the application needed to be given to national policy, given the council’s “housing land supply/delivery deficiencies".
Green light given to bridge housing shortfall
Benefits listed by council planners included reducing the “housing supply shortfall” and providing a “form of affordable accommodation that meets an identified housing need", as well as bringing the building back into use.
Council planning officers added that there were no adverse impacts identified in respect of “visual and residential amenity, biodiversity, highway safety, or in respect of crime/antisocial behaviour/fear of crime and flood risk/drainage".
Council planners maintained the HMO would "result in a more varied mix of housing provision in an area that would assist with meeting particular housing needs" and would not "undermine the immediate area's overall general character".
They added the day-to-day management of tenants would be “most appropriately addressed by the landowner” and that there was “no evidence that an authorised HMO operating from this property would generate harmful levels of crime and antisocial behaviour".
The council's highway authority also said the proposed use would "likely generate similar parking requirements to the existing use."
For more information, visit South Tyneside Council’s planning portal website and search for reference 260198.