HMO conversion gets thumbs up from council planners

Council planners have approved the conversion of a terraced house in Brithdir, near New Tredegar, into a HMO.

A flurry of neighbour objections was not enough to dissuade Caerphilly County Borough Council officers from granting planning  permission, arguing there is a “severe” shortage of accommodation for single people and small households.

The property at 10 Nelson Terrace currently has two bedrooms, but could now become a house in multiple occupation for up to four people.

HMOs are typically properties for single, unrelated adults who have their own private bedrooms but share other communal areas such as kitchens, bathrooms or living rooms.

In this case, the plans show a ground floor living room would be divided to create two new bedrooms.

The application drew ten objections from the community, focusing on parking pressures, privacy and safety.

A council report did not clarify who would live at the property, if the conversion goes ahead, but applicant D2 Propco specialises in providing temporary accommodation across South Wales.

Council planners said Caerphilly County Borough “currently has a severe shortage of this type of property and heavily relies on bed and breakfast accommodation to meet the shortfall”.

“It is therefore considered that the proposal will assist with the provision of accommodation for single persons or small households and contribute to meeting the needs of the community,” they added.

Responding to the objections, the planning officers said it was “not considered the proposed change of use in itself would significantly change the immediate character of New Tredegar or detrimentally impact the current levels of amenity received by the neighbouring occupiers”.

They said the proposal to provide one off-street parking space would be “sufficient”, and there is “no empirical evidence to establish that there would be an increase in crime or antisocial behaviour as a result of this proposal”.

Planning documents show the property is not currently vacant, but the applicant has reportedly notified the owner that planning permission was being sought.

Council officers granted planning permission for the proposed HMO conversion, subject to conditions.