Former Chester News Shop to be converted into Bedsits

Sunderland City Council has approved plans to transform the premises of the former Chester News Shop on Chester Road into HMO Bedsits.

The Planning and Highways Committee of Sunderland City Council approved plans this week for the Chester News site at 129 Chester Road, near Chesters pub.

Initial proposals submitted to council officials sought to convert the ground floor of the property into three ‘bedsits’, or a “House in multiple occupation” (HMO) each with en-suite bathrooms.

However, due to the “lack of communal space”, applicants were told that the proposal would likely be recommended for refusal as it would “provide an inadequate level of residential amenity for future occupiers

Revised plans were put forward in August 2024, reducing the number of bedsits from three to two and including a kitchen/lounge area and separate toilet and shower room. The proposed works also included external alterations to the building to “replace the shop front with domestic-style double glazed windows and a domestic entrance door”.