Plans for seven-bedroom HMO in Broughton granted permission

A decision to refuse plans to turn a family home into a seven-bedroom house in multiple occupation (HMO) has been overturned. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Flintshire Council’s planning committee rejected proposals to convert a property on Larne Drive in Broughton in February after receiving 50 objections ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The application was recommended for approval by a senior officer, but permission was denied by councillors after they were told it would have a negative effect on neighbours and lead to parking problems. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Chris Walsh, who was behind the scheme, later filed an appeal after a consultant acting on his behalf said the committee was wrong to turn it down. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The inspector responsible for overseeing the process has now allowed the appeal as she concluded it would not cause any harm to the appearance of the street. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

In her report, Claire MacFarlane said: “Concerns have been raised regarding the potential alteration to the character of the area, as consisting mainly of family homes. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“However, the surrounding area is residential in nature and the scale of the proposal would not conflict with, or result in a material alteration to, its character in this respect. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The appeal property is located close to centres providing employment and services, with access to public transport and opportunities for travel by walking and cycling. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“I acknowledge that on-street parking space within the cul-de-sac is limited due to the number of vehicle accesses within a relatively small area. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“However, given the sustainable and accessible location of the property, I consider the proposal would make sufficient provision for parking within the appeal site and would not result in a harmful level of on-street parking in the surrounding unrestricted residential roads.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The committee previously rejected separate plans to create a HMO on Gladstone Road in Broughton after a protest in the community, but that decision was also overturned. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Speaking out against the latest proposals at February’s meeting, local councillor Billy Mullin said: “We need to make a stand, it’s as simple as that.
“We can’t put up with HMOs of this size being thrown at us. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“It’s not in keeping with the cul-de-sac that it’s on and it’s going to have really big issues with parking. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“We have to accept this is going to have a real detrimental impact on the lives of the people of Larne Drive and on those grounds, I believe we should refuse this.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Ms MacFarlane acknowledged concerns had been raised that the application would result in increased noise and disturbance to neighbours. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

But she concluded the plans would not have a significant impact on nearby residents. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

She added: “Most of the concerns raised are largely related to the behaviour and lifestyle of future occupiers, which are not specific to HMOs and may occur in any residential area. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The proposal would be required to comply with any licencing requirements in terms of management of the property as a HMO, and noise nuisance or anti-social behaviour could be addressed through other regulatory regimes.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Despite allowing the appeal, she decided not to award costs against the council. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Liam Randall – Local Democracy Reporter (more here). ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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