Plans to repurpose a Grade II-listed building from a hotel into supported accommodation for the homeless have been met with concern by Hitchin residents.

The proposals by Keystage Housing would see the Lord Lister Hotel in Park Street provide short-term accommodation - up to 12 months - for individuals who have a history of rough sleeping or are at risk of rough sleeping, have recently been in prison or are engaging with probation services, and have a formal mental health diagnosis and/or have a history of substance and/or alcohol misuse.

Developers seek to provide 21 self-contained rooms, four of which will be located in the external buildings to the rear of the main hotel.

The hotel has already been home to Keystage's services for a number of months after North Herts Council was successful in its bid for funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

The council was awarded £200,000 to grant fund the development of an accommodation and support scheme for homeless single people in North Hertfordshire.

A council spokesperson explained: “We have a number of specific responsibilities, two of which are the local housing authority and local planning authority. Where responsibilities overlap, we have processes in place to ensure that decisions for each element are considered separately and on their own merits.

“Housing and planning both come under the regulatory service director, therefore the managing director took the decision to allocate the government funding of £200k to Keystage Housing, to avoid any potential conflict for the regulatory service director - who will oversee our robust planning process in relation to Keystage Housing’s application for the Lord Lister Hotel.”

The planning application has received 27 objections through the council's online planning portal, with many citing the proximity of the centre to Highbury Infant and Nursery School and The Half Moon pub.

The application received no public comments in support of the scheme before the end of the consultation.

Admiral Taverns Ltd, which owns The Half Moon, is one of the 27 objectors, raising “significant concerns” in the public consultation.

“In terms of the Lord Lister Hotel, the loss of this facility as a hotel to that of a hostel will negatively impact upon tourism and the leisure industry to the Hitchin area through the loss of hotel accommodation for visitors,” the company stated.

Many of the comments cited fears there would be an increase in anti-social behaviour in the area as a result of the plans.

Keystage Housing aims to get people into long-term housing, and provides personal support to those using its scheme to help make this happen.

A spokesperson for Keystage Housing said: “During the pandemic, the government’s ‘Everyone In’ scheme uncovered the vast extent of homelessness in the country.

“Hotels like the Lord Lister have been used for the last two years to accommodate people experiencing homelessness in North Herts, but these have not always been equipped to provide the additional support which makes an impact on getting people back into long-term housing.

“Keystage Housing has been invited to address the many and varied reasons people may have found themselves without a home in North Herts by providing intensive housing support.

“We have identified a safe and secure environment to support people into suitable local housing options.

“We look forward to more conversations with the community as we provide further reassurances during the planning process.”

The council spokesperson concluded: “As the local housing authority, we have a legal duty to prevent homelessness whenever possible and – as per our council plan – have committed to support initiatives which provide for the needs of the most vulnerable in the district

“These needs have grown significantly throughout the pandemic.

“The planning application has been ‘called in’, meaning it will be judged on its planning merits at a meeting of the planning committee and anyone can register to speak at the committee meeting.”

The Lord Lister Hotel is a Grade-II listed building and is graced with a blue plaque in ode to Joseph Lister - the originator of modern antiseptic surgery - who attended Isaac Brown's School situated in the building in 1840.

The hotel is also located in a conservation area.

In February last year, North Herts Council's planning committee unanimously awarded planning permission to Stevenage-based charity, Haven First, for a purpose-built homeless shelter in Letchworth.

The standard consultation for Keystage Housing's plans ended on Thursday, February 17, and neighbours' consultation will end on Thursday this week.

To read more about the application, go to north-herts.gov.uk, and search 22/00170/FP in the planning portal.

For more on Keystage Housing, go to keystagehousing.co.uk.