Retrospective small HMO at 6-10 North Street, Ashford

What was proposed

Retrospective permission was sought to change the first-floor Flat 1 from ancillary staff accommodation to a small HMO, without external alterations.

“Change of use of the first floor Flat 1 from ancillary staff accommodation to small HMO (C4). (retrospective) Applicant…”

“Retrospective planning permission is sought for the change of use of the remaining flat (first floor, Flat 1) from ancillary staff accommodation to a small House in Multiple Occupation (Use Class C4). No external alterations are proposed to facilitate the change of use. Figure 1: Site Location…”

Officer report

The site and its setting

The four-storey town-centre building contains a restaurant and four flats, lies in the conservation area, and is surrounded by mixed commercial and residential uses.

“The application site comprises a four-storey building located at the corner of North Street and Park Street within Ashford town centre. The ground floor is in use as a restaurant, with four residential flats arranged across the first and second floors.”

“The site lies within the Ashford Town Centre Conservation Area and the Upper Great Stour catchment. The building is not listed.”

Officer report

Earlier permissions

Three other flats already had permission for HMO use, while Flat 1 was being used as an HMO without planning permission.

“The upper floors comprise four flats, three of which benefit from planning permission for House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) use (including two large HMOs and one small HMO) under application references 19/01141/AS and 21/00255/AS.”

“The remaining unit (Flat 1) is currently in HMO use without the benefit of planning permission. This application therefore seeks retrospective planning permission to regularise its use as a small HMO (Use Class C4).”

Officer report

What consultees said

Environmental Protection raised no objection subject to sound insulation, while ward members expressed concern about the number and growth of town-centre HMOs.

“Ward Member(s): Cllr Suddards and Cllr Gauder have been contacted by the Central Ashford Community Forum regarding the number of applications being submitted for HMOs in the town centre. Figure 2: Proposed Floor Plan…”

“Environmental Protection: No objection stating that the applicant is advised to have regard to the comments provided by the Environmental Protection Team under application reference OTH/2025/1820, particularly in relation to sound insulation requirements.”

Officer report

Neighbour views

Twenty-one neighbours were consulted and no letters of representation were received.

“Neighbours: 21 neighbours were consulted and no letters of representation were received.”

Officer report

Who spoke

One ward member attended and spoke on the application.

The committee decision

The committee resolved to permit the application subject to an Appropriate Assessment, suitable mitigation, delegated powers and planning conditions.

“(B) subject to planning conditions and notes, including those dealing with the subject matters identified below, but not limited to that list, and those necessary to take forward stakeholder representations, with wording and triggers revised as appropriate and with any ‘pre-commencement’ based planning conditions to have been subject to the agreement process provisions effective 01/10/2018.”

Minutes