Local Planning Decision

An application for permission to have a 8 bedroom House of Multiple Occupation on Sherwin Street was dsicussed by the planning committee last night. Two local councillors, Martin Repton & Alison Martin, went with local resident to make the case that there is a shortage of private rented accommodation for families in the area.

The background on this is that the house has been used as a 7-bed HMO for around 20 years and the application is for planning consent as an 8-bed HMO after the property changed hands last year. I believe it was previously licensed as an HMO but did not have planning consent, so that’s two Council departments not cross referencing, a point that was raised by Cllr Lucy Care.

The councillors made points about the lack of affordable private rented accommodation for families, density of student housing, parking and antisocial behaviour issues and the need for balance and social contribution.

The Chair made a strong statement in support of the concerns. However the application was approved by a narrow margin 3:2 but several committee members abstained which seemed to be a message of support, i.e. they were not in favour of the application but they were aware that they had insufficient grounds to refuse as that would likely lead to an appeal.

We challenged the architect’s assertion that the application ‘reduced housing shortages’, on the basis there is not a shortage of student accommodation (there is, however a shortage of larger family homes); and his claim that 1 parking space between 8 households was ‘ample parking’.

It was noted that there was a resolution in September 2022 to tighten regulations, but the Council were ‘dragging their feet’.