Agenda item

Change of use of dwelling house (C3) to a large 10-bedroom House in Multiple Occupation (Sui genesis) facilitated by two storey side extensions, a single storey rear extension, and extension to the dropped kerb to create additional parking.

The committee considered application P21/S3973/FUL for Change of Use of a dwelling house (C3) to a large 10-bedroom House in Multiple Occupation (Sui genesis) facilitated by two storey side extensions, a single storey rear extension, and extension to the dropped kerb to create additional parking, at 14 Haydon Road, Didcot.

Consultations, representations, policy and guidance, and the site’s planning history were detailed in the officer’s report, which formed part of the agenda pack for the meeting.

Councillor Eleanor Hards, a representative of Didcot Town Council, spoke objecting to the application.

Statements received from the following local residents and had been sent to the committee by the democratic services officer prior to the meeting;

Mr. Francis Kennedy

Mrs. P Kilczynski

Mr. Rob Metcalf

Mr. Adam Place, the agent, spoke in support of the application.

Councillor Ian Snowdon, a local ward councillor, spoke objecting to the application.

Councillor Alan Thompson, a local ward councillor, spoke objecting to the application.

In response to a question from the committee regarding waste collection arrangements, and the possibility that the development would be meeting the needs of 20 persons, the senior planning officer responded that waste bins were considered to be a commercial operation, as the dwelling exceeded 6 bedrooms. Additionally, the council’s waste management team had no objection to the proposed arrangements. Refuse and recycling storage were covered by the proposed planning conditions.

In response to a question from the committee regarding the provision of amenity space, the planning officer reported that council officers considered that the proposal would be appropriate in terms of the size of the property and the proposed internal layout, access, private amenity space and car parking provision.  This also took into account nearby Didcot Town Council amenity space. The property itself benefitted from a generously sized rear garden that provided external private amenity space for occupants.

The committee expressed the view that the proposed dropped kerb and hardstanding could damage the leafy aspect of the road. Additionally, it considered that the proposals did not represent a biodiversity gain. The committee also considered that the noise and disturbance generated would be unacceptable. It concluded that the development would be unneighbourly and out of character and that planning permission should be refused.

A motion to refuse planning permission was moved, seconded, and carried on being put to the vote.

RESOLVED: to refuse planning permission for application P21/S3973/FUL for the following reasons:

1.    That having regard to the change of use of an existing residential property to a larger 10-bedroomed House in Multiple Occupation (HMO), the proposal would be detrimental to the local residents as a result of the intensification of the use of the property in terms of additional noise and disturbance. The proposal is contrary to Policy DES6 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2035.

2.    That the proposal would result in the loss of an enclosed frontage and extent of grassed verge that would be out of keeping and harmful to the character and appearance of Haydon Road. The proposal is contrary to Policies DES1 and DES2 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2035.