Councillor has bid for HMO in Great Yarmouth rejected

Daniel McGrath has been told his bid for the home in York Road, near the town’s seafront, would not be in line with plans to encourage tourists to stay close by.

Officials at Great Yarmouth Borough Council say it is trying to reverse the trend of a loss of short-term holiday lets and an increase in houses of multiple occupation (HMO).

Instead, it wants more places where visitors could stay.

Mr McGrath said he purchased the house in 2025 (Image: Google Maps)

Mr McGrath, county councillor for South Caister and Bure, submitted a retrospective application in February, before he was elected to County Hall last month.

His company Green Energy Housing Ltd, which is listed on his councillor register of interests, is mentioned on some of the papers sent to the borough council.

The councillor said: “I specifically target properties that are vacant or run down and bring them back into use through a full refurbishment.”

He told the borough council he purchased the house last year, with the intention of providing affordable accommodation for locals.

Daniel McGrath has represented South Caister and Bure since being elected to County Hall in May (Image: Great Yarmouth First)

The York Road property had been empty since 2019 after the former owner died.

If officials had backed the scheme, the home would have housed up to seven people living in it.  

Officials add the proposed HMO would limit where visitors could stop overnight and reduce spending in the area.

In its plans for the area’s future, the council wants to “ensure high quality, self-contained residential accommodation is protected and promoted”.

Rejecting the bid by Mr McGrath, officials say allowing another HMO in the area would be damaging to its character.

The scheme also goes against its plan to “sensitively manage the transition of the area” by forbidding HMOs.

On Great Yarmouth First's website, Mr McGrath says he spends most of his time renovating empty properties.