Controversial plans to turn a three-bed semi in Upper Weston in Bath into a seven-bed house of multiple occupation (HMO) have been approved.
Holcombe Green in Bath
The plans for 10 Holcombe Green were signed off by council planning officers last week even though the proposed bin storage element was on land separately owned by housing association Curo.
Soundproofing measures will have to be installed at the property as the officers acknowledged that the way the houses were built makes them “susceptible” to noise.
Rivers Birtwell, which specialises in accommodation for students and young professionals, is the company that submitted the plans for what it described as a “high-quality HMO”.
The change of use includes adding a single-storey rear extension and external wall cladding. The HMO will have seven single bedrooms with two shower rooms/WCs and a living/ kitchen/dining room.
There is no off-street parking but there will be storage for four bikes.
The council had received 11 letters of objection concerned about the lack of parking, overdevelopment and that mechanisms should be put in place to prevent the area becoming “saturated” with HMOs.
It was also highlighted that the front garden is owned by Curo.
The council keeps a register of HMOs intended to manage any negative impacts on a neighbourhood. The rules say that no residential property can be ‘sandwiched’ between HMOs and that no more than 10% of properties within a 100-metre radius should be in HMO use.
The council officers’ report said a search had found there would be four HMOs (including 10 Holcombe Green) within a 100-metre radius, which is a concentration of 4.34%, and that no property would be sandwiched between other certified HMOs.
The planning report noted that the front garden “appears to be in separate ownership to the building itself” which affects provision of the bin store.
But it added: “Given the property is presently used as a dwelling house, which has comparable waste storage and collection requirements to the proposed use, it is not considered that planning permission would be withheld if the bin store could not be provided.”
Council officers were satisfied that the development is acceptable in terms of parking provision give the house’s “sustainable” location and local on-street availability.
