Plans to change the use of a four-bed family home in Twerton to a five-bed house in multiple occupation (HMO) have been approved.
Bath-based 18-25 Properties has been successful in its application to convert the two-storey terraced house at 171 Redland Park.
Bath & North East Somerset Council had received 11 letters of objection, highlighting issues including that there are already too many HMOs harming the local community, the impact on road safety with too many cars trying to park, that schools are undersubscribed due to the lack of families, and that there is not the infrastructure to support more people.
Currently an HMO application in the city is not permitted if it would result in any home being ‘sandwiched’ between two HMOs, or that the number of HMOs within a 100-metre radius tips the concentration to 10% or more.
In the case of No.17, no property would be sandwiched, while current data reveals a 9.2% concentration of HMOs.
The proposed use does not include any external alterations, although details of a timber bin store and bike shed were provided. There is no off-street car parking.
Council planners said the proposed HMO would not cause significant harm to any occupiers or neighbours through loss of privacy, noise, smell, traffic or other disturbance.
We reported last month on the need for a review of the rules governing HMOs in Bath to protect family homes.
Councillor Matt McCabe, the Liberal Democrat cabinet member for built environment, housing and sustainable development, has been asked by the planning committee to urgently bring forward his review.
