A house in Seaforth can be turned into a seven bedroom house of multiple occupation after a previous application to convert it was refused.
At a meeting of Sefton Council ’s planning committee tonight, February 16, temporary permission was granted for the house at 50 Elm Road to be converted after councillors met to discuss the proposals.
The plans had been objected to by Cllr Gordon Friel and several local residents, with one saying they were worried about “greedy developers” pricing out first time buyers from the Seaforth area, according to a report produced ahead of the meeting.
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A previous application for converting the house was refused in November last year due to “substandard” bedroom sizes, with an amended application put forward the following month.
Officers said the new plans were acceptable in terms of bedroom size and the amount of communal and outdoor space.
Cllr Friel’s objections to the plans included concerns with the quality of the design, the number of HMOs in the area, the impact on residents and the density of people who would be living in the property.
Several local residents also objected, saying they were concerned at the impact the development could have on the character of the area, living conditions and parking as well as fears about “greedy developers” pricing out first time buyers.
Addressing the objections, planning officer Diane Humphreys said there was only one other HMO within a 50m radius of the address so there was no over-concentration of HMOs in the area – although one councillor pointed out there was another along the same road.
Ms Humphreys said one of the conditions of approval would be for sound insulation to make sure living conditions were acceptable.
Several councillors said that the condition stated in the report did not cover all of the rooms and officers agreed to amend the planning conditions to include extra insulation for all bedrooms.
Cllr Paula Spencer and Cllr Lynne Thompson questioned the “vague” management plan which the developer had submitted asking how it would be put into action and monitored.
Ms Humphreys said: “That’s what’s been provided by the applicant” adding that a condition requiring a more detailed management plan to be approved by officers could be included.
Cllr Spencer suggested allowing a temporary approval to give officers the chance to monitor the effectiveness of the management with Cllr John Kelly suggesting a two year temporary approval.
Councillors then took a vote, agreeing unanimously the conversion could go ahead – subject to ensuring sound insulation in all the bedrooms and a detailed management plan before tenants could move in.
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