Agenda item

To consider the report of the Assistant Service Lead City Development.

The Assistant Service Lead City Development (RC) presented the application for the change of use from dwelling (Class C3) to House of Multiple Occupation (Class C4).

The proposal related to a two storey three-bedroom mid-terrace dwelling located within a zone where the Council had applied an Article 4 Direction in 2011 to restrict changes of use from Class C3 (dwelling) to Class C4 (House in Multiple Occupation, or HMO). The objective had been to ensure the maintenance of balanced communities and to prevent streets being dominated by short stay student residents, which leaves properties vacant for significant periods outside of the academic terms. 

This property was in student HMO use prior to 2013 when the applicant bought the property and, through Permitted Development, converted it back to a Class C3 dwelling. After a period of six years, the applicant has concluded that the dwelling was not suitable for normal family life and therefore wished to move. He sought planning permission for a change of use back to a Class C4 HMO.

Mrs Partridge spoke in support of the application.

·         the house has been on the market for over a year. Since June, there had been a lot of interest, but no offers received;

·         although consideration had been given to further reducing the price, two estate agents had suggested that the property should be listed at a higher price so the asking price had not been reduced;

·         lockdown has been particularly difficult with increased time in close proximity to neighbours in the Salvation Army house with more anti-social behaviour issues such as loud music. The Salvation Army management had been supportive, trying to remedy the situation, but the issue remains;

·         the exceptional circumstances in the planning policy is as if it had been written about the house. C4 restrictions in part recognise how difficult it is for home owners to be surrounded by HMO’s and are designed to protect them. In this situation it is too late for the policy to make a difference to the immediate area; and

·         the feedback is the same - people do not want to buy a house which is surrounded by HMO’s. It is not felt that the home is safe for the children to play in the garden and where there is little opportunity for long term relationships to be built with neighbours. 

The recommendation was for approval, subject to the conditions as set out in the report and was supported by Members.

The recommendation was moved and seconded.

RESOLVED that planning permission for the change of use from dwelling (Class C3) to House of Multiple Occupation (Class C4) be approved, subject to the following conditions:-

1)         The development to which this permission relates must be begun not later than the expiration of three years beginning with the date on which this permission is granted.

Reason: To ensure compliance with sections 91 and 92 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

2)         The development hereby permitted shall not be carried out otherwise than in strict accordance with the submitted details received by the Local Planning Authority on 28 February 2020 as modified by other conditions of this consent.

Reason: In order to ensure compliance with the approved details.