Police raise security concerns over council’s planned HMO

Police say council plans to convert a Georgian townhouse into temporary accommodation are lacking in security detail.

Worcester City Council intends to buy Barrington House in Henwick Road, currently owned by the University of Worcester, for use as temporary housing.

But the scheme faces growing opposition.

Concerns have been raised over safety, crime, and the impact on the surrounding community.

The city council has been expanding its stock of temporary accommodation since 2019 to reduce reliance on bed and breakfasts for homeless families.

The property would provide seven self-contained flats, plus three en-suite bedrooms and a shared kitchen.

Councillors approved the purchase at a policy and resources committee meeting in March, but residents and officials have voiced serious concerns.

Jeremy Guy McCoig-Lees said: “Henwick Road and the surrounding area is already subject to many HMOs and [is] blighted by students and the parking of their vehicles.

“This is yet another HMO which I believe that the council has now said that the area has too many of and have banned others locally from being established and in some cases expanded.

“The accommodation may be used by up to 20 people and children.

“Without 24-hour on-site staffing the management and reporting will largely fall to the nearby residents.”

Hannah Wylde, another objector, raised concerns about noise, transient occupancy, and the potential impact on community cohesion.

West Mercia Police raised concerns about the application, citing a lack of detail about security arrangements.

Jacqueline Godfrey-Hunt, Design Out Crime officer, said: “There is inadequate detail of security, as such I am unable to complete a comprehensive assessment of this application.

“Effective, crime prevention, management, policies and procedures are required to ensure safety for all residents.

“Residents of multiple dwellings do have the right to feel safe and secure in their accommodation, badly designed HMOs are prone to increased levels of crime and disorder.”

She noted the area is already densely populated with students and that there is no parking proposed for residents of the scheme.

Ms Godfrey-Hunt also raised concerns about plans to replace existing roller shutters with timber gates, saying an unmanaged entrance could leave the property vulnerable to crime.

Her concerns follow the council’s wider ambitions to improve temporary accommodation standards.

Tom Mountford, head of homes and communities at Worcester City Council, said the council’s approach would result in “better outcomes for residents, and safer, higher quality living conditions.”

POLICE say council plans to convert a Georgian townhouse into temporary accommodation are lacking in security detail.

Worcester City Council intends to buy Barrington House in Henwick Road, currently owned by the University of Worcester, for use as temporary housing.

But the scheme faces growing opposition.

Concerns have been raised over safety, crime, and the impact on the surrounding community.

The city council has been expanding its stock of temporary accommodation since 2019 to reduce reliance on bed and breakfasts for homeless families.

The property would provide seven self-contained flats, plus three en-suite bedrooms and a shared kitchen.

Councillors approved the purchase at a policy and resources committee meeting in March, but residents and officials have voiced serious concerns.

Jeremy Guy McCoig-Lees said: “Henwick Road and the surrounding area is already subject to many HMOs and [is] blighted by students and the parking of their vehicles.

“This is yet another HMO which I believe that the council has now said that the area has too many of and have banned others locally from being established and in some cases expanded.

“The accommodation may be used by up to 20 people and children.

“Without 24-hour on-site staffing the management and reporting will largely fall to the nearby residents.”

Hannah Wylde, another objector, raised concerns about noise, transient occupancy, and the potential impact on community cohesion.

West Mercia Police raised concerns about the application, citing a lack of detail about security arrangements.

Jacqueline Godfrey-Hunt, Design Out Crime officer, said: “There is inadequate detail of security, as such I am unable to complete a comprehensive assessment of this application.

“Effective, crime prevention, management, policies and procedures are required to ensure safety for all residents.

“Residents of multiple dwellings do have the right to feel safe and secure in their accommodation, badly designed HMOs are prone to increased levels of crime and disorder.”

She noted the area is already densely populated with students and that there is no parking proposed for residents of the scheme.

Ms Godfrey-Hunt also raised concerns about plans to replace existing roller shutters with timber gates, saying an unmanaged entrance could leave the property vulnerable to crime.

Her concerns follow the council’s wider ambitions to improve temporary accommodation standards.

Tom Mountford, head of homes and communities at Worcester City Council, said the council’s approach would result in “better outcomes for residents, and safer, higher quality living conditions.”