There is a new planning application being prepared.
I met with the developer and architect yesterday evening to discuss some of their plans, which are still in the early stages.
They are still planning a new building on the side which will have capacity for almost 200 individuals, but there are some significant changes that I believe will make it more acceptable to neighbours than the previous plan.

They have agreed to arrange a meeting to discuss the plans, ideally prior to submitting the planning application, so that feedback can be taken into account.

Based on the plans I saw yesterday many of the concerns have been addressed, at least to some extent, but there are still some issues that need the architects need to look at.

My other concern is that, although the current management have improved the behaviour of residents, this is not guaranteed in the future. A hostel of this size can be a positive part of the wider community, or it can be have a serious impact on the quality of life for shops and neighbours. Much of this is down to who is housed there and what support if offered. These are not necessarily planning issues but could potentially be included as undertakings for the future management of the building within the planning application.