Six-person HMO at 1 Great Park Street, Wellingborough

What was proposed

The application proposed changing a retail unit and dwelling into a six-bedroom, six-person house in multiple occupation.

“This application seeks planning permission for the change of use of numbers 1 and 1A Great Park Street from a part residential, part retail unit, to a 6- bedroom, 6-person occupancy House in Multiple Occupancy (HMO).”

“Amended plans have been received during the consideration of the application following concerns raised by the NNC Senior Built Heritage Consultant regarding the external changes to the windows of the former retail unit. The changes include the removal of the transoms to the windows, the removal of the inward opening windows and their retention in their original form.”

Officer report

The site and its history

The site comprised a vacant former tailor’s shop and a four-bedroom dwelling, with no relevant planning history.

“The application site consists of numbers 1 and 1A Great Park Street. Number 1A is an existing but vacant ground floor retail unit formerly used as a tailor's shop and number 1 Great Park Street is a 4-bedroom residential dwelling. The retail unit has a corner entrance door, two shop windows fronting Great Park Street and one shop window fronting Herriotts Lane. The building is constructed in brick with stone detailing under a slate roof.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers considered the change of use acceptable and recommended approval subject to conditions.

“Concerns have been raised regarding the loss of the retail unit by Wellingborough Town Council and nearby residents. However, it is considered that the applicant has sufficiently demonstrated that the unit is no longer required and due to the site’s close proximity to the town centre which is the main focus for retail uses, the re-use of the unit as part of a house in multiple occupation (C4 use) would be considered to be acceptable in this location.”

“The proposed change of use to part of a house in multiple occupation (C4 use) is considered to be acceptable in principle and would comply with policies 6, 11 (1) (a) and 29 of the JCS.”

Officer report

Who spoke at the meeting

The senior development management officer presented the application, and no requests to address the meeting had been received.

What members discussed

Members discussed bins, parking, cycle spaces, HMO facilities, ventilation, water use, the clock and enforcement of occupancy limits.

“Confirmation over the number of bins and location was sought. It was confirmed there four bins between the six units, and they would be located on the street. • Parking was known to be an issue in the area and how would this be mitigated. There was no off-street parking, a parking beat survey established there was sufficient space to park on the street, resulting in objections from highways being withdrawn.”

“A query over the limitation on water usage was raised. [name withheld] clarified that this was a requirement of the Joint Core Strategy and is a condition on all residential dwellings. • Confirmation was sought that the clock on the property would remain. This was confirmed.”

Minutes

How members voted

The motion to grant permission received 11 votes in favour, with no votes against and no abstentions.

“There being no further comments the chair invited members to cast their vote.”

“On being put to the vote there were 11 votes in favour, no votes against and no abstentions and the motion was declared carried unanimously.”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

Planning permission was granted subject to the conditions listed in section 10 of the report.

“For the purpose of debate and in accordance with the council’s constitution meeting procedure rules 19.2 and 19.21 the chair moved the recommendation, which was seconded by Councillor Eglin, as detailed at item 9, page 30 of the report that planning permission be granted subject to the conditions listed in section 10 of the report and the committee was invited to debate the application.”

“RESOLVED that planning permission be granted subject to the conditions as detailed at section 10 of the report.”

Minutes