Issue - items at meetings - Article 4 direction – Houses in Multiple Occupation

Report of the Strategic Director; Place (copy attached).

1.                  That the direction under article 4 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (as amended) to remove the permitted development right to change the use of a building from a dwelling house (Class C3) to a House in Multiple Occupation (Class C4) within the five electoral wards for the reasons outlined in this report be confirmed; and

2.                  That having confirmed the direction in (1) above, it be noted that the direction would come into force on 5 April 2013.

124.1    The Strategic Director; Place introduced the report which sought approval of an Article 4 direction to remove a permitted development right under planning legislation that allows changes of use from dwelling houses (Class C3) to small Houses in Multiple Occupation (Class C4).  The intention being to require planning applications to be made for such changes of use and thereby provide the council with a degree of control over the location of new small Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), and to influence the concentrations of HMOs in established residential areas.

124.2    Councillor Wakefield welcomed the report and noted that it was seeking to address the concerns raised by residents about the increasing number of HMOs in five specific wards.

124.3    Councillor G. Theobald stated that he had thought the majority of residents had indicated their opposition to the proposal during the consultation exercise.

124.4    The Senior Team Planner confirmed that in looking at the responses on a technical basis the majority were against the proposal, however in looking at the issues raised it was evident that a large proportion of the responses were concerned about the increasing number of student houses and their impact on the area.  He stated that a number of the wards did have capacity for further HMOs, however a significant number were concentrated in small areas which was having an impact.

124.5    The Chair stated that the proposed change was about the number of HMOs and not just student accommodation and would not be retrospective.  He noted that anyone could apply for a change of use and that the aim was to be able to take account of the area in question and he had raised this with student representatives who recognised the concern and understood the council’s position.  He then put the recommendations to the vote.

124.6    RESOLVED:

(1)         That the direction under article 4 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (as amended) to remove the permitted development right to change the use of a building from a dwelling house (Class C3) to a House in Multiple Occupation (Class C4) within the five electoral wards for the reasons outlined in this report be confirmed; and

(2)         That having confirmed the direction in (1) above, it be noted that the direction would come into force on 5 April 2013.

Note:   The Chair then adjourned the meeting for a short comfort break at 6.30pm

            The Chair reconvened the meeting at 6.35pm.