Agenda item

Report of the Service Lead, Planning, Infrastructure and Development recommending that conditional approval be granted in respect of an application for a proposed development at the above address.

The Panel considered the report of the Service Head, Planning, Infrastructure and Development Manager recommending that authority to grant conditional approval in respect of the application for a proposed development at the above address.

Change of use from dwelling (Class C3) to a house in multiple occupation (HMO, Class C4) (retrospective)

Paul Hughes (local resident objecting), and Aaron Joseph (applicant) were present and with the consent of the Chair, addressed the meeting.

The Panel discussed the potential highways impacts of the development and the potential change to character of the area that establishing a House of Multiple Occupancy. 

Upon being put to the vote the Officer recommendation for the approval of planning permission subject to conditions was lost.  Councillor L Harris proposed a further motion to refuse the application, subject to the reasons set out below, was seconded by Councillor Blatchford carried unanimously. 

RESOLVED that conditional planning permission be refused for the reasons set out below.

1.  Character of area

The change of use of the property from a C3 family dwelling to a HMO, taking into account the context and character of the area, will result in an intensification in the use of the property, which by reason of the additional general activity, refuse generation, noise and disturbance would be to the detriment of the amenity of nearby residents, and is out of character with the context of the local neighbourhood. As such the proposal represents an over-intensive use of the site and is therefore contrary Policies SDP1 (i), SDP7 (v) and H4 (i) & (ii) of the City of Southampton Local Plan Review (amended 2015); and CS16 of the Local Development Framework Core Strategy Development Plan Document (January 2010) and as supported by sections 1.1 & 4 of the Council's adopted Houses in Multiple Occupation Supplementary Planning Document (2015).

2.  Highways impacts of development

The provision of a single on-site parking space is not sufficient to meet the needs of the development, being less than that maximum standard outlined in the Councils Houses in Multiple Occupation Supplementary Planning Document, and would likely exacerbate existing parking pressure in the surrounding area. This is having regard to the more intensive occupation of the property; the low-accessibility nature of the site and; the parking pressure within the area, evident through existing levels of unauthorised parking on nearby highway verges (notwithstanding the results of the submitted car parking survey). As such, and in the absence of an opportunity to provide further on-site car parking without causing harm to highway safety, the proposal would result in additional overspill parking which would be harmful to the character and amenity of the surrounding area and residents.  The proposal represents an over-intensive use of the site and is, therefore, contrary to Policies SPD1(i), SDP7(v) and H4(i)(ii) of the City of Southampton Local Plan Review (2015) and CS16 and CS19 of the Local Development Framework Core Strategy Development Plan Document (2015), as supported by the provisions of the Councils Houses in Multiple Occupation Supplementary Planning Document (2016) and Parking Standards Supplementary Planning Document (2011).