A Durham county councillor who has campaigned against Houses of Multiple Occupancy has been branded a ’hypocrite’ after a property formerly linked to his address was converted into a HMO.
Mark Wilkes, a vocal member of the council’s planning committee, has a track record of speaking against HMOs throughout County Durham and repeatedly urging leaders to protect residential areas.
Yet the Liberal Democrat member for Framwellgate and Newton Hall has now been criticised by his own residents in the close-knit community of Pity Me after a property formerly listed as his electoral address was converted into a HMO – despite objections from neighbours.
Cllr Wilkes admitted he was aware of the plans for Petite Mer, but the application was not referred to a planning committee for consideration.
Mark Wilkes, Liberal Democrat county councillor (Image: Supplied)
He said he has “no responsibility” for the property and moved out in 2021.
But opposition leaders described Cllr Wilkes’ decision as hypocritical.
A retrospective planning application to convert the former two-bed bungalow into six bedrooms was approved by Durham County Council in December after works began earlier in the year.
According to planning and land registry documents, the bungalow is currently owned and managed by his ex-partner, Ingrid Rowe.
Cllr Wilkes, who has represented the area since 2008, is adamant that he is not responsible for the property.
He said: “I did not receive any request for the application to be referred to committee from residents, and had that happened, I would have passed it to a colleague to avoid any suggestion of a conflict of interest, as it is my ex-partner’s property.”
But residents have insisted that their concerns should have been heard at a public meeting.
Bob Glasper, who lives opposite Petite Mer, was one of eight properties to object during the planning process before the application was approved by delegated powers in December.
Bob Glasper, who lives opposite Petite Mer. (Image: The Northern Echo)
The 76-year-old said: “I would love to know why Cllr Wilkes didn’t call in the alterations to the property.”
Residents in Pity Me praised the community spirit among neighbours, but they fear that could soon be lost as the ongoing issues relating to HMOs in Durham reach their doorsteps.
Neil Griffin, a former mayor of Durham City who lives on Front Street, said: “There’s a general concern that introducing another HMO in a family area is altering the culture of the village.
“If that has got planning permission, then the next one will be a shoo-in as more and more of these are built.”
Another resident added: “I felt it should have gone to an open meeting, and the fact it has been passed through hasn’t been very transparent.”
Yet, Cllr Wilkes has been supported by ward colleagues Cllrs Amanda Hopgood and Elizabeth Pears, who said the application was discussed at a parish council meeting, but they were not aware of any objections.
A retrospective application to convert the bungalow was approved last year. (Image: The Northern Echo)
During his time as a member of the council’s planning committee, Cllr Wilkes has previously spoken against planning applications for shared and student housing.
Last October, he lobbied leaders to introduce new legislation to cover an “unsustainable” multi-million pound council tax shortfall in Durham City due to the rising number of student properties.
Other key aspects of Councillor Wilkes’ HMO campaigning include:
Cllr Wilkes said: “We need the government to step in and provide councils with more control over the expansion of HMOs because the current planning rules are not strong enough to block the vast majority of HMO applications.
“The council’s announcement on countywide restrictions to HMOs this week will not make a blind bit of difference to the issue of HMOs in Durham City because they have failed to reduce the maximum HMO level from 10 per cent in an area.
“I have previously called for proposals to reduce the maximum HMO levels in an area to five per cent, which would halt further expansion in Durham City.”
But Andrew Husband, Reform council leader, has criticised Cllr Wilkes amid the residents’ concerns.
He said: “I believe he has betrayed his community and the people who voted for him. Genuine concerns have been raised, with objections by the residents of the ward he represents, and they have been ignored.
“The man is a hypocrite.
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“If there are residents wanting to be heard and with concerns as obvious as this about HMOs of all things, it just proves to me that Cllr Wilkes should not be allowed anywhere near a planning committee going forward.
“To not even call this development to a committee reeks of everything I despise in politics. His track record suggests one rule for thee, but not me. This is not a good look at all.”
The planning agency working on behalf of the application for Ms Rowe was contacted for comment.
