Plans to convert former Neath Abbey property into six-bedroom HMO approved by council

Unable to attach picture of New Road, Neath Abbey. Contact lewis.smith@walesonline.co.uk if needed.
Plans to turn a former Neath Port Talbot property in to a six-bedroom house in multiple occupation (HMO) have been approved by the local council.
The application for a change of use at a former residential property in New Road in Neath Abbey were handed in to the authority in February.
It was given the go-ahead as part of officer’s delegated decisions made between May and June.
The approval could now see the house, based off the A4230 close to the former Abbey Primary School, converted in order to be used as a shared property.
A section of the report says: “The proposed plans include the conversion
to a HMO that shall provide six bedrooms (three on the ground floor, two on first floor, and one on second floor).
“Kitchen and living areas will be provided on lower ground floor with toilets and bathrooms situated on the ground and first floors (with an en suite provided for the bedroom on the second floor).
“There are no proposed changes to the building footprint and the floor levels are understood to remain the same as existing.”
Part of the decision notice from officers said the site must be limited to a maximum occupancy of six people at any time.
It added the development must begin no later than five years from the date the decision was made.
The move comes after a series of HMO applications have been brought forward in the borough over the last year in some cases leading to backlash from members of the public.
These include separate plans to develop a five-bedroom HMO in Briton Ferry which were approved after appeal  to the Welsh Government despite initially being rejected by the local council. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

By BBC LDRS ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​