An investment firm based 100 miles away is seeking to convert a YMCA hostel into a 10-bed house of multiple occupation (HMO) in one of Liverpool’s most popular areas. An application has been submitted to the city council for a property on Ullet Road to be transformed.
While no external changes are proposed, the “substantial” Victorian property would be amended inside to provide bedrooms across three floors. The building is just a stone’s throw from Sefton Park.
Application details
The application has been lodged with Liverpool Council by Wertie Investments Ltd. However, according to Companies House, the property development firm is actually based in Sutton Coldfield in Birmingham.
The building is currently in use as an 11-bedroom hostel operated by YMCA, providing supported accommodation. The existing use has been established at the site for a number of years, and the property has been adapted internally to facilitate communal living arrangements while retaining its external residential appearance.
Surrounding land uses include houses, flats, HMOs, supported accommodation, care-related uses and other community facilities, resulting in a mixed pattern of occupation and tenure.
Planning assessment
According to an officer report ahead of a Liverpool Council planning committee to be held next week, the site is located within an HMO sub-area where the number of developments is below the 10% threshold. As a result, it is deemed as acceptable, subject to compliance with other relevant planning policies.
A number of objections have been received from residents and Cllr Laura Robertson-Collins, the ward member, raising concerns regarding the concentration of HMOs, parking pressures, noise and disturbance, anti-social behaviour and the implications of the Article 4 Direction.
The report said: “These concerns have been carefully considered. In assessing the proposal, significant weight has been given to the lawful existing use of the property as an 11-bedroom hostel. It is considered that the proposed 10-bedroom HMO would result in a comparable level of occupation and activity and would not give rise to materially greater impacts on neighbouring amenity than the existing lawful use.”
Living standards and decision
Officials said the proposed accommodation would provide a “satisfactory standard of living conditions for future occupants”, with bedrooms exceeding minimum space standards and adequate communal and bathroom facilities being provided. The proposed accommodation would be arranged over the ground, first and second floors, with the basement retained for ancillary purposes.
According to Companies House, Wertie Investments Ltd lists two directors, Bradley Taylor and Jessica Taylor. Both were appointed when the company was incorporated in May 2022.
The plans will go before Liverpool Council members on Tuesday, August 25 at Liverpool Town Hall.
