Six-bedroom HMO at 6 Southdown Avenue, Southdown, Bath
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by Bath Planning Committee on 30 Jul 2025.
What was proposed
The application sought to change a three-bedroom dwelling into a six-bedroom house in multiple occupation.
“The application refers to 6 Southdown Avenue, a residential property located within Southdown, Bath. The site is located within the City of Bath World Heritage Sites.”
“Planning permission is sought for the change of use from 3 bedroom dwelling (Class C3) to 6-Bedroom HMO (C4)”
Officer report
Planning history
There was no relevant planning history on the site.
“There is no relevant planning history on this site.”
Officer report
What officers recommended
Officers recommended permission, considering the application compliant with relevant planning policies.
“Section 70(2) of the Town and Country Planning Act (1990) makes clear that a Local Planning Authority must have regard to "the provisions of the development plan, so far as material to the application" and "ant other material considerations".”
“In this case it is considered that the application complies with the relevant planning policies as discussed in the report above is therefore recommended for permission.”
Officer report
Consultation responses
No consultation responses were received.
“SUMMARY OF CONSULTATIONS/REPRESENTATIONS Consultation Responses :”
Officer report
The committee’s decision
The committee refused the application because the proposal would overdevelop the site and harm occupiers and the privacy and amenity of 8 Southdown Avenue.
“The change of use and conversion of the garage to a habitable space would result in overdevelopment of the site through insufficient space for occupiers, resulting in a harm to the occupier's amenity. The garage conversion would result in increased disturbance to neighbouring occupiers from overlooking and an increase in noise, impacting the neighbours privacy and amenity of 8 Southdown Avenue, contrary to policy D6 of the Placemaking Plan.”
Minutes
The members' reasons
The resolution gives these reasons:
“DECISION REFUSE 1 The change of use and conversion of the garage to a habitable space would result in overdevelopment of the site through insufficient space for occupiers, resulting in a harm to the occupier's amenity. The garage conversion would result in increased disturbance to neighbouring occupiers from overlooking and an increase in noise, impacting the neighbours privacy and amenity of 8 Southdown Avenue, contrary to policy D6 of the Placemaking Plan.”
Minutes
Source: the council's minutes, quoted word for word.
Sources
- Bath Planning Committee minutes, 30 July 2025
- Agenda and papers (council website)
Source: Plota analysis of Bath's committee minutes and officer report. Quotations are the council's own words; headings and summaries are Plota's.
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See the API →At the meeting
- Committee
- Bath Planning Committee
- Council
- Bath
- Date
- Wednesday 30 July 2025
- Recommendation
- Officers recommended approval
- Committee decided
- Refused, against officer advice
- Minutes
- The council's minutes
- Meeting
- Agenda and papers (council website)
- Application
- The application (council website)
- All decisions
- Bath committee decisions →