7-bed HMO at 11 Honiton Road, Southend-on-Sea

“Planning permission is sought for a change of use from a dwellinghouse (Use Class C3) to a 7- bedroom, 7-person House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) (sui generis), to alter the elevations of the building and install secure bin and cycle stores within the rear garden.”

“It is proposed to install a bin store and two bike stores within the rear garden area of the site. The bin store would be some 1.4m high, 0.85m deep and 2.4m wide. The bike stores would each be some 1.5m high, 2.05m deep and 3.7m wide. The bike stores would each hold four cycles.”

“The application site contains a semi-detached two-storey dwelling on the west side of Honiton Road. The immediate surrounding area is residential in character.”

“The site is not within a conservation area or subject to any other site-specific planning policy designations.”

“On 1 st May 2024, a Certificate of Lawfulness (reference 24/00401/CLP and hereafter referred to as the 2024 CLP) was granted confirming the conversion of the existing dwelling to a 6-person HMO and the installation of a rear dormer and rooflights would be lawful development that would not require planning permission from the Local Planning Authority.”

“Table 1: Relevant Planning History of the Application Site Reference Description Outcome 24/00396/CLP Convert loft into habitable accommodation with dormer to rear and velux windows to front elevation (Certificate of Lawful Development -Proposed) Granted 24/00401/CLP (the “2024 CLP”) Use dwellinghouse (Class C3) as 6 person House of Multiple Occupation (Class C4), erect dormer to rear and rooflights to front (Certificate of Lawful Development -Proposed) Granted…”

“For the reasons outlined above, the proposal contributes to the Council’s need for all forms of housing and is found to be acceptable and policy compliant with regards to the principle of the development, design and impact on the character of the area, impact on residential amenity, impact on future occupiers, traffic and transportation and sustainability matters.”

“GRANT PLANNING PERMISSION subject to the following conditions:”

“That PLANNING PERMISSION be REFUSED for the following reason:”

“It has not been demonstrated that the proposed development would not be detrimental to the living conditions of future occupiers of room 2 in terms of receipt of sufficient light and outlook. Furthermore, the proposed internal layout of the proposed development would result in room 3 being inconveniently located away from its shower room resulting in unacceptable living conditions for its future occupiers.”