Plans to turn a family home into seven bedsits on a “cramped” estate in Stoke Gifford have been refused by councillors against the advice of officers despite warnings of a costly appeal. South Gloucestershire Council development management committee was recommended to approve the change of use at 112 Kings Drive to a house in multiple occupation (HMO).
But members voted 6-2 to reject the proposals, saying they were unhappy about parking issues and communal space for occupants at the mid-terrace three-storey property. A planning officer told the meeting on Thursday, October 13, that there were no objections from highways officers and that a parking survey commissioned by applicants Pasha Wealth, a lettings company, showed there were enough spaces in the area, with two of the four needed provided on site.
She said refusal could result in an appeal which would require the council to provide firm evidence to justify the decision when officers had assessed that the plans complied with the authority’s own policies. The officer said that while the property already had very limited amenity space, the application would not make a poor situation worse.
