A controversial bid by a property investment company to turn a three-bed family home in Twerton into a seven-bed house in multiple occupation (HMO) has been approved by a majority vote of Bath & North East Somerset Council’s planning committee.
One of the homes on Cameley Green in Twerton
Rivers Birtwell submitted the planning application for semi-detached 12 Cameley Green, which includes adding a single-storey rear extension, bin and bike stores. One off-street parking space is provided.
The council received 42 objections to the proposal, with concerns about the extension being too large, the loss of affordable family homes, transport and parking, and that the activity of seven occupants would result in a significant increase in internal noise, as it is a steel-framed house.
Planning officers were recommending the scheme for approval as it complies with council policies. But ward councillor Sarah Moore (Twerton & Whiteway, Liberal Democrat) asked for it to be ‘called in’ for the planning committee to determine it.
Committee chair Councillor Tim Ball (Twerton & Whiteway, Liberal Democrat) said that as it was an application in his ward and he had been “heavily lobbied” about it, he delegated the call-in decision to vice chair Councillor Paul Crossley (Southdown, Liberal Democrat). Councillor Crossley agreed it could be heard at the committee.
Current HMO rules in B&NES stipulate that such shared accommodation should not represent 10% or more of households within a 100-metre radius of the application property.
In this case, the concentration would be increased to 7%. A planning officer told the committee that to reach the threshold, three more properties would have to be converted to HMOs.
Members were told there would be no ‘sandwiching’ of a home between two HMOs, and the scheme includes some soundproofing.
Among the members unhappy with the plans at the committee meeting on Wednesday 15th April was Councillor Shaun Hughes (Midsomer Norton North, Independent), who said he would be voting against as it was “overdevelopment” to have seven adults in a property of this nature and location.
If each of the occupants had a partner, that would result in 14 adults in the house, he said.
Councillor Ian Halsall (Oldfield Park, Liberal Democrat) said he supported the recommendation, despite his concern about the loss of another HMO in an outlying area of the city which could be deemed to be a more affordable family home.
The council is looking at revising the policy as so many traditionally family homes are being converted into HMOs, exacerbating the city’s housing crisis.
Councillor Halsall said that under current rules the 10% threshold “still offers an invitation” for three more houses to be converted to HMOS in the radius of 12 Cameley Green.
Meanwhile, planning permission has been granted this month to Aurelius Properties Ltd to change the use of 26 Cameley Green from a three-bed house to a four-bed HMO.
Seven objections were received relating to the principle of HMO use, noise and disturbance, and the impact on parking and highways.
But council planning officers were satisfied that the proposal for the semi-detached property was policy compliant, saying the concentration of HMOs within a 100-metre radius would be 8.53% and it passed the sandwiching test.
Sound reduction measures will be put in place, and there is off-street parking for two cars, while storage for four bicycles will be provided in the rear garden.
