Agenda item - BH2019/03209 - 55 Centurion Road, Brighton - Full Planning

1.    Joanne Doyle (Senior Planning Officer) introduced the application and gave a detailed presentation by reference to site location plans, elevational drawings and photographs. It was noted that the main considerations in the determination of this application relate to the principle of the change of use, impact upon neighbouring amenity, the standard of accommodation which the use would provide and transport impacts of the proposal.

Speakers

2.    Paul Bowes spoke on the application as an objector and stated that:

·     No. 55 is in a terrace of 3 bed houses, 3 of which are already Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMO) and the proposal is for 5 bedrooms;

·     Street parking in the area is an issue, the proposal should be car free. The s106 agreement needed to refuse parking.

·     Noise is an issue: no sound insulation has been proposed for the dwelling. The walls of the property are very thin allowing a large amount of noise to filter through to neighbours.

·     This is a Conservation area. There are a number of HMOs in the area, some like 46 St Nicholas Road occupied by 3 university students are not recognised as official HMOs.

·     If the application were to be granted permission, 50% of terrace will be HMO. Please refuse.

Questions for Speaker

3.    None

4.    Ward Councillor Lizzie Dean spoke on the application and stated that there had been 18 objections to the proposals and residents were very concerned. The application site is in a Conservation Area where the social fabric will be altered and eroded by the granting of permission. The number of HMOs nearby can be misleading as Council Tax records show a number of houses in the area may be HMOs as they have different names living there. When campaigning it was noted that many houses seemed mixed and these were not recorded. There is parking for one vehicle only even though there could be as many as five, which seems an oversight.

Questions for Ward Councillor

5.    None.

Questions for officer

6.    Councillor Joe Miller was informed that the Environmental Health team were not always consulted on applications for HMOs. It was noted that a sound proofing condition could be added to the scheme and that the application was not car free as the proposal relates to an existing C3 use to change to a flexible C3/C4 use, it is not considered necessary to impose a condition to restrict parking permits as the proposal would not materially alter the existing situation.

7.    Councillor Sue Shanks was informed that the applicant can be flexible and move between the C3 and C4 uses.

8.    Councillor Tracey Hill was informed that the house would be flexible to accommodate a family or students under the two uses.  

Debate

9.    Councillor Sue Shanks stated they did not support the application feeling that the flexible use was not good, and the applicant should choose one.

10. Hilary Woodward informed the committee that it was lawful to be flexible between the two uses.

11. Councillor Joe Miller stated if there were other HMOs in the area that were not listed, residents should note and report to the Local Authority. Parking is an issue and a car free development would be better. Sound proofing would also be an improvement. Subject to these additions, Councillor Miller supported the application.

12. Councillor Tracey Hill stated they supported the application and the flexible use from family home to HMO accommodation. Any informal HMOs should be reported and investigated.

13. Councillor Joe Miller put forward a motion to attach conditions requiring the development to be car free and for sound proofing to be installed. Councillor Hill seconded the motion.

14. Vote: The committee agreed to the motion by a vote of 2 to 1.

15. Vote: The committee voted by a majority to Grant Planning Permission.

16. Resolved: The Committee has taken into consideration and agrees with the reasons for the recommendation set out in the report and resolves to GRANT planning permission subject to the Conditions and Informatives in the report.