Seven-bedroom HMO at 56 Dover Road, Portsmouth

What was proposed

The application sought to change a dwellinghouse into a seven-bedroom, seven-person house in multiple occupation, with extensions, cycle storage and bin storage.

“The proposal is for the change of use of the property from a dwellinghouse (Class C3) to an 7 Bedroom - 7 Person House in Multiple Occupation (Sui Generis).”

“The Applicant has stated that extensions achieved under Permitted Development would be constructed in order to facilitate the change of use. These are a single storey rear extension (following the removal of the existing lean to style extension), rear dormer, and two front rooflights. The property would be extensively re-modelled internally.”

Officer report

Technical consultation

Highways found no unacceptable highway or safety impact, while requesting cycle storage; the private sector housing response was awaited.

“Dover Road is residential road with bus stops and local amenities in close proximity. It is not considered that size of development would lead to a material impact to the function of the highway or result in any unacceptable safety impact. There may be increase instances of vehicles hunting for space in the vicinity, this is however an issue of residential amenity for your consideration of the application. Condition for cycle storage requested.”

Officer report

What people objected to

Thirty-nine representations opposed the scheme, citing concerns about HMO concentration, character, noise, crime, parking, accommodation, services and waste.

“Number of HMOs in the road and local area • Impact on character of the area • Over development • Undue strain on local services and infrastructure, including sewage, drainage, waste management and Doctors/Dentists • Increase in noise and disturbance • Increase in crime and anti-social behaviour…”

“Lack of car parking provision leading to an increase in traffic and exacerbation of existing on-street parking problems • No parking survey submitted • Concerns over the layout and standard of accommodation being provided • Concerns over waste storage…”

Officer report

Who spoke

The meeting heard an opposing deputation, a speaker for the applicant and the ward councillor speaking against the proposal.

What members discussed

Officers explained the communal space, parking shortfall, existing fallback use, highway position and permitted development works; one member supported approval.

“The living space was considered sufficient because the adopted policy allowed for a reduced size of communal space where the bedrooms were a larger size. It provided adequate space for cooking and eating.”

“The existing dwellinghouse use generated a parking demand of 1.5 spaces, while the proposed HMO use generated a demand of 2 spaces, resulting in a shortfall of 0.5 spaces. The existing lawful use formed the fallback position and should be taken into account when assessing additional parking demand created by the proposal.”

Minutes

Permission and safeguards

Permission was subject to Solent mitigation, possible amended conditions and refusal if the legal agreement was not completed within one month.

“Delegated authority be granted to the Assistant Director of Planning & Economic Growth to grant conditional planning permission subject to satisfactory completion of a legal agreement to secure: (a) The mitigation of the impact of the proposed residential development on Solent Special Protection Areas (recreational disturbance and nitrates) by securing the payment of a financial contribution and relevant conditions.”

“Delegated authority be granted to the Assistant Director of Planning & Economic Growth to refuse planning permission if a legal agreement has not be satisfactorily agreed within one month of the date of this resolution.”

Minutes