Plans to convert a former bank into a “cramped” house of multiple occupation have been refused by Sefton Council after leaving some nearby families “highly distressed.”
The proposals involved transforming the former TSB bank building on South Road in Waterloo into an eight bedroom house of multiple occupation (HMO). The three storey building had previously been given prior approval to convert the top two floors into six self contained flats under permitted development rights.
However, in order to convert all or part of the building into a HMO, due to a rule put in place by Sefton Council called Article 4, the applicant, Harold Jones Ltd, needed to apply for full planning permission before the conversion could go ahead. As part of the plans, Harold Jones Ltd stated it wanted to add a two storey extension in the rear yard of the building to create two decking areas for the bedsits.
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The applicant also claimed that, although permission to convert the whole of the top to floors into HMO has been sought, the final result could involve a mix of both self contained flats and bedsits. The plans would bring a vacant building back into use, according to the applicant, and bring “obvious community and regeneration benefits.”
Documents submitted to Sefton Council earlier this year stated the ground floor would continue to be used for business purposes. The application received a total of eight objections from local residents. One objector said the plans left their family “highly distressed” due to the sheer size of the proposed extension.
The objection stated the family feared the extension would end up effectively “invading our privacy” and there were also concerns expressed about noise issues from the number of tenants. Other objections referred to parking and litter concerns, and one objector mentioned noise issues arising from other HMOs nearby.
In a decision report released earlier this week, Sefton Council planning officers refused the proposals on the grounds the rooms provided “cramped” and “inadequate” living conditions for prospective tenants. The report stated: “It is considered over intensive use of the building as it provides inferior space and living accommodation for the occupiers of the rooms.”
In addition, the proposed extension would be “overpowering” in the area and contrary to the Local Plan, according to the report.
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