Flats set to be approved in Scarborough to transform former troubled hotel

Shafiq Mahmood, of Arain Property, wants to transform The Breece in West Street into 20 flats which, he says, could be used for students or professionals.

The building hit the headlines in 2014 when Scarborough Council succeeded in getting magistrates to issue a closure order when it was a House of Multiple Occupancy (HMO).

At the time the council told the magistrates that there had been “a wide range of antisocial behaviour at The Breece over a nine-month period, including criminal damage, theft, drug use, domestic violence, serious violence, burglary and an allegation of rape”.

A number of complaints from local residents had led to the council stepping in to shut it down.

Now, Mr Mahmood wants to give the building a new lease of life and on Thursday Scarborough Council’s planning committee will meet, with officers recommending they approve the plans.

The council’s own Environmental Regulation manager objected to the number of flats originally proposed, 23, which has seen them reduced to the 20 under consideration.

Planning permission had previously been granted in 2017 for 16 flats in the building.

In a report prepared for the planning meeting this week, council planning officers say that councillors can approve the plans.

It states: “Conversion of the building to self-contained flats is viewed as a positive use following the unsuccessful operation of the building as a large HMO, which followed the closure of the former residential care home use in 2012.

“The building has not been in use for some time, although the applicant has started to carry out essential works to the property including re-roofing it.”

Five members of the public objected to the scheme, with concerns ranging from where people will park to fears that the building will once again be used as an HMO if residents for the flats cannot be found.