Agenda item

Report of the Planning and Development Manager recommending conditional approval be granted in respect of an application for a proposed development at the above address, attached.

The Panel considered the report of the Planning and Development Manager recommending conditional approval be granted in respect of an application for a proposed development at the above address.  (Copy of the report circulated with the agenda and appended to the signed minutes).

Change of use from six-bedroom House in Multiple Occupation (Class C4) to eight-bedroom HMO [Retrospective].

David Neame (agent), Mrs Mansfield and Mrs Theobald (local residents / objecting) and Councillor Vinson (ward councillor / objecting) were present and with the consent of the Chair, addressed the meeting.

The presenting officer reported:-

• amendments to the conditions relating to cycle and refuse storage;
• receipt of a Parking Survey; and
• that the property had been registered as six person HMO (C4 Use) on 8 March 2012 and re-registered as an eight person HMO (Sui Generis Use) on 30 March 2012.

Amended Conditions

2. APPROVAL CONDITION – Refuse storage

Within two months of the decision notice details shall be submitted to be agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority for refuse storage providing facilities for domestic and recyclable waste, where the structure shall not be taller than the existing front boundary treatment. Unless the approved scheme is carried out and completedwithin one month of the Local Planning Authority’s approval, the occupation of the use approved shall cease until such time as details of the refuse storage referred to above have been submitted, approved and the works completed to the written satisfaction of the Local Planning Authority (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) and thereafter retained on site for those purposes.

Reason:

As the approved works will regularise a breach in planning control in the interest of visual amenity and for the safety and convenience of the users of the adjacent footway.

3. APPROVAL CONDITION - Cycle storage [Regularisation Condition]

Unless within two months of the decision notice details shall be submitted to be agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority for a secure, covered space with cycle stands to provide for eight bicycles to be stored. Unless the approved scheme is carried out and completedwithin one month of the Local Planning Authority’s approval, the occupation of the use approved shall cease until such time as details of the cycle store referred to above have been submitted, approved and the works completed to the written satisfaction of the Local Planning Authority (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) and thereafter retained on site for those purposes.

Reason:

As the approved works will regularise a breach in planning control to encourage cycling as an alternative form of transport.

RESOLVED:-

  (i)  that the application be refused planning permission for the reasons set out below; and

  (ii)  that authority be delegated (to the Planning and Development Manager in consultation with the Head of Legal and Democratic Services) to take enforcement action against the unauthorised use of the premises as an eight person HMO (Sui Generis Use) to revert to a C4 use.

Reason for Refusal

1 - REASON FOR REFUSAL Impact on character of the local area

The Intensification of occupation of the property to an eight person HMO will result in an adverse impact on the overall character and amenity of the area surrounding the application site in terms of the mix and balance of households in the local community and the residential amenity of neighbours.  Therefore, the proposal will be contrary to saved policies SDP1 (i) and H4 (ii) of the City of Southampton Local Plan Review (Adopted March 2006) and policy CS16 of the City of Southampton Local Development Framework Core Strategy Development Plan Document (Adopted January 2010) as supported by the relevant sections of the Houses in Multiple Occupation Supplementary Planning Document (Approved March 2012), in particular sections 5.4 and 6.7.

RECORDED VOTE to refuse planning permission and delegate authority to take enforcement action.

FOR:  Councillors Claisse, Harris, Lewzey, Lloyd and Norris

AGAINST:  Councillors Mrs Blatchford and Cunio