Plans to convert a former care facility into an 11-bedroom house in multiple occupation (HMO) will now be decided by a Government-appointed planning inspector after developers challenged Sunderland City Council’s refusal of the scheme.

An appeal has been lodged against the council’s decision to reject proposals to transform the vacant former local authority care hub at 12 Godfrey Road, Grindon, into “co-living” accommodation aimed at young professionals.

The plans sparked strong local opposition, attracting around 40 objections and a petition signed by 470 people.

Residents raised concerns about noise, antisocial behaviour, overdevelopment, traffic, waste and the impact on neighbours.

The property in Godfrey Road in Sunderland.

placeholder image — The property in Godfrey Road in Sunderland.

However, the scheme also received 20 letters of support, with some describing the current derelict building as an “eyesore,” and backing plans to bring it back into use.

The plans were submitted earlier this year and seek permission to change the vacant former local authority care hub into “co-living” accommodation in the form of an 11-bedroom HMO.

The applicant, Metters Properties, is an accredited landlord with the council, and the target demographic for the HMO is “young professionals”. It also stated an antisocial behaviour complaint policy would be put in place.

Although the HMO plans were recommended for approval by council planners at a meeting on June 10, councillors voted to refuse the residential development.

A council decision notice said the refusal was linked to the number of HMO occupiers and associated pedestrian and vehicular movements and activity being “likely to contribute to significant incidences of noise and disturbance being experienced by neighbouring residential occupiers”.

The applicant has since lodged an appeal and a planning inspector will be appointed by the Secretary of State to rule on the matter.

The appeal will be determined via written representations and the Planning Inspectorate will publish an update once a decision has been made.

A representative for the applicant, speaking at the June planning and highways meeting, said the applicant was “born and bred in Grindon” and stressed the property would be well-managed.

The planning agent added developments with young professionals “tend to have low car usage” and said the proposed HMO was the most feasible option for the site.

Council planners also confirmed the applicant had agreed to the HMO being “single occupancy” per room.