Disorder erupted in the Waterville Road area of Meadow Well on Bonfire Night, causing significant damage to a building under construction. Northumbria Police said officers believe the disorder was "pre-arranged" and stemmed from "misinformation in the community that the completed building is going to be used as a House of Multi-occupancy (HMO)."
Photos from the scene on Friday morning showed a burnt-out car smashed into the building and several windows put through. The force has since confirmed that the rumours were inaccurate and the planned use for the site was a supermarket and flats above for private rent.
Violence Against Emergency Workers
Emergency service workers dispatched to diffuse the disorder were subjected to violent attacks "including having bricks, missiles, and fireworks thrown at them," according to Northumbria Police.
Until this morning, Heron Foods had been recruiting staff for a new shop at the Waterville Road site. Those job advertisements appear to have been removed. Heron Foods has been contacted for a comment following the disorder.
Planning Documents Confirm Intended Use
Planning application documents show that permission has been granted for nine flats above the shop. The decision, approved on April 27 this year, granted permission to "Extend the first floor, add a second floor and create 7no additional residential flats (9 total). Construction of first floor extensions, increase to the building height, installation of dormer windows and external alterations."
There is no mention in the documents that the site is intended to be used as an HMO. A banner fixed to the building's external wall states that no asylum seekers will be housed at the property. The banner reads: "Our promise to the community of Meadowell, no asylum seekers will be housed here."
Community Support for Development
One public comment was submitted during the consultation period, expressing "strong support" for the work. The comment, submitted in April this year, said: "I am writing to formally express my strong support for this development. The site on Waterville Road has been a neglected, barren piece of land for a significant period, and this project provides a much-needed constructive use for the space."
It added: "Our local area is in need of high-quality housing developments of this nature. This proposal represents a positive step for the community's regeneration and should be encouraged to proceed."
This is not the first time "misinformation" regarding an HMO being built in the North East has caused anger within a local community. In October last year, the developer responsible for work to Lancaster House in Cramlington called an urgent public meeting to dispel rumours that the site was being turned into an HMO for asylum seekers. More than 100 concerned residents attended the meeting, where the owner confirmed that the building was being renovated to create private rental flats.
