Plan to convert former Scarborough care home Harewood House into an HMO is thrown out; dozens of people had objected

The scheme from Artz Ltd was to convert Harewood House at 47 West Street into a property to house up to 21 people in 14 bedrooms.

The objectors were concerned about the number of HMOs in the area and also about the increase in parking, traffic and anti-social behaviour it could bring.

Scarborough Council’s planning committee refused the plans, saying the number of bedrooms should be reduced to at most 10, in line with a review into HMOs carried out by the council previously.

Cllr David Jeffels said: “I have a great deal of sympathy [with residents]. I suspect they are not scaremongering as they are basing their views on their experience in the South Cliff area for a number of years.

“I am not at all happy with this proposal.

“I think in view of us being faced with a 14 bedroom HMO I cannot go along with it.”

Cllr Jim Grieve added that there were already issues with”intimidating behaviour” with some of the residents in other HMOs in the area that he feared would be increased by a new one opening.

The committee voted unanimously to refuse the application, which had been recommended for approval by planning officers.

The Harewood House care home closed in 2017 and despite two auctions being held no buyer has yet been found to take over the property.

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