Bid for new home of 'multiple occupation' approved despite concern over car parking

An application which raised concerns from some residents to turn a house in Northampton into a home for up to four people has been approved.

The proposal was for the change of use of a three bedroom, mid-terrace property in Allen Road.

The application was approved subject to conditions at a meeting of the interim planning committee for the Northampton area of West Northamptonshire Council on April 27.

A report stated: ‘The proposal is for the change of use of a dwelling house into a four-occupant House in Multiple Occupation (HMO).

‘The proposed kitchen and bathroom facilities will be located on the ground-floor at the rear of the property along with a bedroom at the front of the ground-floor, and the proposed living room behind it.

‘Cycle parking and refuse and recycling are to be located at the rear in the courtyard. Vehicle parking will be on-street only.’

The application was called into committee on grounds that it is likely to exacerbate parking and refuse issues in the area.

The report stated consultation letters were sent to neighbouring properties and a site notice posted adjacent.

Four representations were received, and the comments were summarised as follows: impact on parking; waste and recycling; noise nuisance; increase in anti-social behaviour; overlooking; property too small for HMO; impact on public amenity.

Louse Stratton, speaking as a resident for Allen Road, addressed the committee.

She said: “I don’t feel there’s a demand for HMOs in this area like you say there is a number of other HMOs in this area.

“We have extremely bad problems with parking. It’s gotten worse over the years with the addition of new houses being built on the plot of an existing church.

“Speaking as a young professional, we want spaces that we can actually live in and a lot of these HMOs remove a lot of the living areas for us.”

She went on say: “I would implore you to see the personal aspect of it and the issues that we will have with parking.

“I’m not so concerned with how many people live on a certain street, it’s more about the general area and facilities that are already here as they are no.”

The report states: ‘The applicant states that planning inspectors have consistently stated that due to the sustainable location, future resident in HIMOs in this locality may well require the use of a motor vehicle.

‘Furthermore, they have also stated that the existing single family occupancy use of this type of property may well result in a comparable level of car ownership compared to a HIMO and that tenants do not often have or wish to have a car and select a home because of its easier access to facilities.’

The report’s conclusion section stated: ‘The use of the property as a four-person HMO would provide an appropriate standard of accommodation for residents and would not have an undue impact upon the amenity of adjoining occupiers or unacceptable highway impacts.’