Historic Hinckley post office to become luxury HMO after planning approval
Council approves 12-person shared accommodation despite a petition signed by 500 residents and social media rumours over asylum seeker housing
A historic Leicestershire town building is set to become a “luxury” 12-person HMO despite fears it would house asylum seekers.
The former Post Office building in Hinckley, on Station Road, has been given the go-ahead by Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council (HBBC) planning officers to become a 12-bed house in multiple occupation (HMO) despite pushback from residents.
Applicant Investment Street has touted itself as “an established developer and manager of a luxury HMO brand with multiple properties already occupied in the Midlands”, according to planning documents.
The company applied for the conversion in January for 12 people, including a communal living area, kitchen and a dedicated laundry room, in the hope of “bringing the building back into use”.
However, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) can reveal that the investment company behind the application has purchased all of the Post Office buildings, including the main building, sorting office and adjacent building just off George Street.
Developers say it is part of a four-part plan to bring that part of the road into “everyday use” to “secure their long-term future and maintenance” offering “higher quality accommodation and larger rooms for single people, all with private en-suites”.
Approval follows concerns from residents who feared the HMO would “house asylum seekers” or “illegal migrants” after an online petition was set up, which was signed by 500 people.
One petitioner, Matthew, said that the plan would “lead to anti-social behaviour, make Hinckley a very unsafe place for children, cause violent riots and divide the community”, while another resident, Claire, claimed that HMOs in Hinckley were “out of control”.
Despite this, planning officers found there were no formal objections or objections were raised by residents or council officers.
Asylum seeker claims have also forced HBBC’s Lib Dem council leader Stuart Bray to push back on social media.
He added: “There are reports on social media that the former post office building on Station Road is to be converted to a home for asylum seekers – this is not true.
“The plans are for high-end town centre accommodation for private rent. The building is privately owned.
“I think it was a shame that the Post Office moved out of the building. Local Lib Dem councillors campaigned at the time to keep it as a post office which helped footfall in this part of town”.