Councillors Refuse Plans for Five-Bedroom HMO in Rhondda Amidst Strong Objections

Councillors have confirmed their decision to reject plans for a five-bedroom HMO in the Rhondda following more than 100 objections.
The application for the house in multiple occupation at a property on Gordon Street in Ton Pentre originally went before Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) planning committee in June.
At that meeting, the committee voted against the application, contrary to the
recommendation of officers, as they considered the property substandard for use as a five-bedroom HMO and now a further report has come to committee to highlight the potential strengths and weaknesses of taking a decision contrary to officer recommendation.
At the meeting on Thursday, August 15, the planning committee stuck with their decision to refuse the application which included the reason for refusal suggested by officers that the proposal represents an inappropriate conversion and is considered overdevelopment of the site, resulting in an unacceptable intensification of use and poor quality living accommodation for future residents; and a detrimental impact on the amenities of nearby residents.
The reason means the application is contrary to policy AW5 of the Rhondda Cynon Taf Local Development Plan and Supplementary Planning Guidance: Houses in Multiple Occupation.
In their planning assessment, officers said that it is considered that HMOs have a key role to play in meeting housing need within the social rented sector and that the proposal would assist in providing alternate accommodation within the village for residents that cannot afford properties of their own.
They added: “However, it is also acknowledged that the occupation of a house by multiple individuals can result in the intensification of its traditional residential use and that such an intensification could result in having negative impacts upon future occupants, their neighbours, and the local community.
“In this case, the scheme relates to an existing building that is currently in
residential use. The application site is located within the settlement limits of
Ton Pentre, in a predominantly residential area of the village.
“It is also within a sustainable location with good access to public transport links and local services and facilities, which is considered acceptable.
“Furthermore, the application complies with relevant policies of the council’s Houses in Multiple Occupation Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG). Therefore, the proposed residential use is considered acceptable, in principle, at this location.
“The proposal would not involve substantial external alterations and would
therefore have no impact upon the character and appearance of the
application property. With limited alterations and an occupation of only five individuals it is not considered the scheme would result in a considerable intensification use, or a significant impact upon the amenity and privacy of surrounding properties. Nor would it have any undue impact upon highway safety in the vicinity of the site.”
They also said that from April 2019 all HMOs in RCT are required to be licensed under the Additional Licensing (Houses in Multiple Occupation) Scheme 2019.
They said that consultation with the public health and protection team has confirmed that the development would comply with all relevant standards required to secure a separate HMO licence.
The application had received 62 letters of objection from local residents, both local councillors and the Senedd Member for South Wales Central, Andrew RT Davies, as well as a separate petition with 58 separate signatures.
Their reasons for objecting included the safety of the community, lack of parking, the impact on neighbours and the character of the street, the lack of need for this type of accommodation there, concerns over potential anti-social behaviour, traffic issues, concerns over a lack of community cohesion, that it might set a precedent for more HMOs in the area denying young families and the elderly affordable homes within the valley area and that the bedroom spaces and communal areas are wholly inadequate for potential tenants. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

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