DESPITE no members of the public complaining through official channels, a Reform UK councillor told a council meeting that residents in Redruth were very concerned about a plan to turn a town centre building into two Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO) for fear of anti-social behaviour.

Cllr Roger Tarrant, who represents Redruth North at Cornwall Council, was told by another councillor: “If you’re going to bring something to the committee for us to consider, then back it up with evidence.”

The exchange occurred during a discussion to consider a proposal by applicant Elliot Thipthorp to convert the Redruth Centre, which was previously occupied by Learning Partnership on Station Road, into three residential apartments and two small HMOs.

Cllr Tarrant had brought the application before the council’s west area planning committee on Monday (September 15) due to his belief that the building should continue in commercial use and the possibility of a potential increase in anti-social behaviour, which could impact neighbouring small businesses in the town.

Redruth Town Council also opposed the proposal on the grounds of over-development.

Cornwall Council’s planning department had recommended approval, pointing out there was a lack of demand for the empty unit, which has been marketed for 16 months with no takers. Officers felt the supply of housing would be of benefit and there was no “substantiated evidence” to justify a presumption that occupiers of the HMOs would increase the fear of crime in the locality.

Architect Tony Martin, speaking on behalf of the applicant, said they had already converted other redundant buildings in neighbouring Camborne. The Regal Hotel was converted into a HMO facility, which was inspected by the council and was now used as a benchmark for such developments in the future.

More recently, they have just finished the conversion of the Salvation Army hall in Camborne into a variety of dwellings and HMO apartments. A leading care provider is now taking on the lease to provide housing for 18 to 25-year-olds.

“These properties are homely and safe – some residents stay with us a for a few months, while others have been with us for over seven years.” Mr Martin said the Redruth Centre would inevitably fall derelict without conversion. He added their plans would safeguard the future of the building and give young people and families the opportunity to be housed.

“HMOs can come with a poor reputation, but what we create do not. They offer a fantastic way to live independently for a huge, often ignored, demographic; in particular, disabled persons.

“A local councillor has raised issues with anti-social behaviour. This development is most unlikely to be a source due to the management protocol in our developments, which our residents sign up to. Encouragingly, there has been a decrease in anti-social behaviour in the immediate area over the last six months according to the latest Devon and Cornwall Police statistics.”

He added: “The success of Redruth as a town depends on the residents that live and work there. We too work and operate within Redruth and want nothing more than to see it thrive. Redruth and its future is as important to us as it is to you.”

Cllr Tarrant told the committee he had been invited by Mr Thipthorp to see the Salvation Hall development. “I was very impressed – the standard was very good. Having said that, my concern as an advocate for the small businesses in the town centre is about more commercial property going away from that town centre. Moreover, a lot of residents are very concerned about a HMO being so central in the town.

“These aren’t people who write in – they just come up to me with their objections. I’m here on their behalf. Although the figures from the police look like anti-social behaviour is going down, it’s not the perception of people in Redruth town at the moment. Their perception is it’s going up.”

Cllr Mike Thomas (Helston North, Independent) asked Cllr Tarrant if he had any evidence of anti-social behaviour at other HMOs in Redruth. “For me, this is not the big issue with this application,” said Cllr Thomas. “To some extent I feel we are wasting time discussing anti-social behaviour because there are far more important issues for me.”

“You know as councillors, all I can do is bring my residents’ concerns,” said Cllr Tarrant. “I’ll take that as a no,” responded Cllr Thomas. Cllr Tarrant verified he didn’t have any evidence.

Cllr Loveday Jenkin (Crowan, Sithney & Wendron, Mebyon Kernow) pointed out there didn’t appear to be many local people raising concerns about the application on the council’s planning portal. There are, in fact, no representations from members of the public against the proposal.

Mayor of Camborne Cllr James Ball (Camborne Roskear & Tuckingmill, Independent) said there were concerns in his town about the possibility of bad behaviour in HMOs but evidence has shown that there has been a reduction in anti-social behaviour where they are based. “I would counter all your arguments on that one,” he told Cllr Tarrant. “If you’re going to bring something to the committee for us to consider, then back it up with evidence.”

Cllr Tarrant retorted that all resources were taken out of Redruth to cover Camborne. “The anti-social behaviour, because of the police resources in Camborne, went drastically down, so to conflate those two together I think is a little disingenuous, Cllr Ball.”

Cllr Thomas said he wasn’t sure he’d be happy to live in the conditions suggested by the application, because of the “sheer number of people close together”. Cllr Ball, himself a wheelchair user, raised concerns about how effectively people in wheelchairs would be able to get around the building.

Other councillors noted there were no commercial or planning reasons to refuse the application. Cllr Jay Hodgetts (Porthleven, Breage & Germoe, Liberal Democrat) said: “It looks like a really handsome building and I think this is an ideal solution to stop its deterioration.”

A proposal to approve the application was approved by eight for and three against.