North Yorkshire Council has said it will not be taking formal action against Homemore over the possibility that a ‘change of use’ of the hotel had occurred.
A council investigation has concluded that the temporary accommodation service provided at Homemore in Scarborough does not constitute a change of use from a hotel to a hostel.
The decision means that residents living in the Prince of Wales Terrace and Esplanade Gardens area will not be able to initiate formal action against the provider on that basis after complaints about antisocial behaviour led the council to launch an investigation and hold several public meetings.
Last year residents said that the level of noise and antisocial behaviour in the area was a “nightmare” and a previous meeting was held in December 2023 to try and resolve some of the issues.
In a recent update sent to residents after the last meeting in July, the council said its investigation had looked into the use of The Maynard Hotel and the Redcliffe Hotel.
Officially, their use should be limited to that of a “hotel or as a boarding or guest house where, in each case, no significant element of care is provided”.
North Yorkshire Council’s planning team said:
“There are currently some characteristics which could indicate the premises are operating as hostels however, this is not conclusive as to whether a ‘material’ change of use has occurred.”
Panners also found there was “some evidence of business being conducted for hotel use” such as “future bookings taken for leisure purposes”.
The council concluded that because the “characteristics mainly support the continued use of the premises as hotels” and based on its investigation to date, it did “not consider that a material change of use requiring planning permission” had occurred.
Speaking at last month’s meeting, Andrew Waggitt of Homemore said another site had been opened away from the area and that it was being used to cater for some of the former Redcliff clients.
He told residents:
“We take everything you say very seriously and it is key to how we operate as a business and we have taken serious action since the last meeting.”
However, locals said they still had concerns about providing temporary accommodation services in a “primarily residential and tourist area” with many referencing Homemore’s provisions.
North Yorkshire Council’s assistant director for housing, Andrew Rowe, highlighted that the council had a legal duty to help people experiencing homelessness and that failing to do so would lead to more people being forced to sleep rough.
Scarborough and Whitby MP Calls for Industry Reform After Local Man's Retirement is "Ruined" by Mis-sold Holiday Home
Pickering Bike Shop Wins Inaugural National Award
Sycamore Gap Sapling Planted Near Whitby As Symbol Of Hope
Britain's Got Talent Semi-Finalist Nancy Tilley To Perform At Scarborough's Rainbow Ball
Approval Granted For New Dog Walking Area In Filey
North Yorkshire Fire Service Sees Massive Surge In Home Safety Visits
Preparations Underway For Whitby's Fish And Ships Festival
Residents Avoiding Scarborough Town Centre Due to Lack of Public Toilets
Witness Appeal Following Assault In Eastfield
Scarborough Athletic Chairman Hails Monumental Season
Former RAF Search And Rescue Helicopters Transformed Into Glamping Pods At North Yorkshire Water Park
Whitby Charity WHISH Honoured With The King’s Award For Voluntary Service
Comments
Add a comment