A six-bedroom house in multiple occupation (HMO) has been approved near Newport city centre despite numerous objections from locals. The conversion of the dwelling at Faulkner Road, a stone’s throw from the city centre, should not have been approved because of a saturation of HMOs and parking issues in the area, objectors claim.
But Newport city council’s planning committee have approved the plans with conditions. The council report rejects the suggestion from some objectors that there are multiple HMOs in the area, and states there is one HMO within a 50-metre radius of the house.
The applicant says the accommodation is for six rooms aimed at professionals “who will benefit from high quality accommodation, including access to Newport city centre and Newport train station”. The property currently contains five bedrooms, a kitchen, and two reception rooms.
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Objecting, Councillor David Fouweather said: “There are already a number of HMOs in this area and I would like you to consider if this development will take us above the threshold. All six residents may have vehicles and this would impact on parking provision in the area.
“If the application is granted I would like a condition placed on the property that the developer must at all times keep the property in good order, ensure waste is not left, and ensure that as people vacate they don’t leave their furniture on the street. There are examples of this behaviour across the city.”
Councillor Matthew Evans also said he had “a number of concerns” over the plans. “The applicant says he is looking for professional people to let it out to, but there is just one kitchen and a small shared living room. Is this usual?
“There is no off-street parking provided and a high percentage of HMOs in the immediate vicinity, many of them are in poor condition with rubbish strewn outside the frontage. Are there any conditions that could be attached to ensure this does not happen here?”
Council supplementary planning guidance specifies a HMO threshold within a 50-metre radius of 15%. The planning committee said a second HMO would take that figure on Faulkner Road to just above 14%. To stay updated with news from across Newport every day sign up to our Newport newsletter here.
Even though the property offers no off-street parking, the Highways Officer’s report states that the “overall proposed development would not have an unacceptable impact on the nearby highways”. The final council report adds: “Due to the site’s sustainable location car ownership levels are typically lower.” The applicant will provide a covered storage area for three bikes.
News of the approval for the Faulkner Road property came just a day after a HMO for five occupants in nearby Chepstow Road was also approved despite parking concerns from residents and Councillor Gavin Horton. That application was initially refused due to inadequate parking.
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