Seven-bedroom HMO at 37 Woodside Road, Guildford

What was proposed

The application sought to turn a three-bedroom dwelling into a seven-bedroom HMO, with a rear extension, altered windows and replacement parking.

“Location: Woodside Road, Guildford, GU2 8HH Proposal: Change of use from an existing dwelling house under C3 to a 7 bedroom HMO under Sui Generis. with the addition of a single storey rear extension together with changes to the first floor fenestration.”

“The proposal would change the dwelling house from a 3 bedroom dwelling to a 7 bedroom HMO. The proposal would include the erection of a single storey rear extension. The existing detached garage located to the rear of the site would be demolished with two off street parking spaces provided.”

Officer report

The site and its history

The site is a semi-detached house in an established residential area, with a rear garden and outbuilding, and one pending loft-conversion application.

“The site is located within the urban area of Guildford within an established residential area comprising predominantly of two-storey, semi-detached dwellings. The site itself is a two-storey semi-detached dwellinghouse set on ground which rises up from Woodside Road and benefits from a rear garden with detached outbuilding which can be accessed by vehicle from Hillcrest Road.”

“25/P/01081 Certificate of Lawfulness for a proposed development to establish whether a loft conversion with a front rooflight and rear facing dormer addition would be lawful. Pending…”

Officer report

What consultees said

The County Highway Authority had no objection subject to conditions, Natural England accepted the assessment, and environmental health highlighted the need for an HMO licence.

“County Highway Authority: No objection, subject to the imposition of conditions relating to the provision of 2 car parking spaces surfaced with a permeable material, two EV charging points, cycle storage, a sustainable travel information pack and charging points.”

“Natural England: In accordance with an agreed position with Natural England, Natural England (NE) will not object to an Appropriate Assessment (AA) undertaken which concludes no adverse effects on the integrity of the TBHSPA due to measures being secured and required to be put in place through a legal agreement and accord with the provisions of the Development Plan and the adopted Guildford Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area Avoidance Strategy SPD 2017.”

Officer report

What members were shown

The Planning Applications Team Leader presented the layout, extension and parking, while officers explained the design, bedroom standards, local HMOs and storage arrangements.

What members debated

Members questioned the two parking spaces and agreed that a third space should be required by condition if considered necessary.

“Members queried the level of on-site parking, noting that the plans showed only two spaces. Officers confirmed that this met the minimum parking requirement.”

“Following advice from officers that members could require the provision of a third space by condition should they consider it necessary, the Committee agreed to add such a condition.”

Minutes

The final decision

The application was approved with delegated authority, subject to the SPA legal agreement, reported conditions and an additional condition requiring a third parking space.

“The Chair then moved the motion to approve application 25-P-01318, with delegated authority granted to the Assistant Director of Planning to grant planning permission subject to a S106 agreement being entered into to secure the provision of SANG and SAMM Contributions in accordance with the adopted tariff of the SPA Avoidance Strategy to mitigate against the impact on the Thames Basin Heath Special Protection Area, and subject to the conditions and reasons as set out in the…”

“RESOLVED: That application 25-P-01318 be approved, with delegated authority granted to the Assistant Director of Planning to grant planning permission subject to a S106 agreement being entered into to secure the provision of SANG and SAMM Contributions in accordance with the adopted tariff of the SPA Avoidance Strategy to mitigate against the impact on the Thames Basin Heath Special Protection Area, and subject to the conditions and reasons as set out in the Officer’s report…”

Minutes