Plans have been submitted to Ashfield Council to turn the old Hope Lea Project site on Annesley Road into a 12-person house in multiple occupation (HMO).

The plans, submitted by Sixty6 Living Ltd, also including adding a rear extension and dormer to the building.

They say the HMO ‘offers much needed affordable rented accommodation with the potential to improve the attractiveness of the area when relevant bodies are seeking to recruit and retain public sector and emergency/care sector workers’.

But Hucknall councillor Lee Waters (Ash Ind), who represents Hucknall Central on the council. has formally objected to the plans and urged the council to refuse them, saying the proposals raise a number of concerns, including noise, late-night activity and whether the site is actually capable of accommodating the number of proposed residents.

Plans to turn the old Hope Lea Project site in Hucknall into an HMO have been submitted to the council. Photo: Submitted

placeholder image — Plans to turn the old Hope Lea Project site in Hucknall into an HMO have been submitted to the council. Photo: Submitted

He said: “A former care home and a large HMO are not the same thing.

"A 12-person HMO could mean separate adult occupants, different working patterns, more visitors, deliveries, vehicles, bins and noise.

“Nearby residents deserve peace and quiet in their own homes.

"This proposal raises real concerns about disturbance, late-night activity, parking pressure, refuse storage and whether the site is simply being pushed beyond what it can reasonably accommodate.”

In their planning statement, the applicants said: “The proposals comprises a change of use with external alterations to the south-facing roof scape by way of a dormer roof extension and a minor extension to the existing single storey office building, none of which are considered to materially impact on the existing scale, massing or design of the property.

“Any harm arising from the proposed roof extension and the change in nature and intensity of use falls within the category of less than substantial harm as defined by the National Planning Policy Framework.

"This limited harm is outweighed by the public benefits of the scheme, including the reuse of underutilised spaces, contribution to meeting an acknowledged undersupply of housing delivery by way of providing 12 units of residential accommodation in a sustainable urban location, and the long-term viable use and maintenance of the building, ensuring that its limited significance continues to be experienced within the streetscene.

"The applicant will ensure that there is a dedicated phone line staffed seven-days a week should local residents have any issues with tenants’ conduct.

"It will be ensured that a manager and senior support worker would be on duty for swift visits and interventions to resolve any such complaints.

"The applicants have a service user agreement and company policies which cover unacceptable behaviour.

"These include, though not limited to - offensive language, noise, aggression, zero tolerance to alcohol or illicit drugs on premises, signs of intoxication or inebriation.

"These matters are taken very seriously and the applicants have a fair, firm and formal approach.

"The proposed development, hereby approved, will be operated in strict adherence to the operational matters included in a service user agreement and policies document to be subsequently approved in writing prior to the occupation of the development.

Residents can view and comment on the proposals by visiting planning.ashfield.gov.uk/planning-applications and using reference V/2026/0105.