Decision details

The Committee received a report requesting authorisation to take formal enforcement action.

The Planning Enforcement Officer referred to the addendum sheet that corrected typographical errors relating to job titles:

·        “Director of Planning and Economic Development” replaced “Head of Planning Services”.

·        “Head of Legal Practice” replaced “Head of Legal Services”.

Address: Florian House and Roman House, Severn Place.

Details of Alleged Breaches of Planning Control: Without planning permission, the unauthorised change of use from C3 dwelling houses to short-term visitor accommodation (sui generis) at the premises.

The report sought authority to:

     i.        Authorise enforcement notices for each apartment under S172 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) alleging that there has been a breach of planning control within the last ten years, namely without planning permission:

·        The unauthorised change of use from C3 dwelling house to short-term visitor accommodation lets (sui generis) at flats 3, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 11 of Roman House.

·        The unauthorised change of use from C3 dwelling house to short-term visitor accommodation lets (sui generis) at flats 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of Florian House.

·        Specifying the steps to comply and the period for compliance for each apartment set out in paragraphs 9.2 to 9.4, for the reasons contained in paragraph 9.5 of the Officer’s report.

    ii.        Authorise the Director of Planning and Economic Development (after consultation with the Head of Legal Practice) to draft and issue the enforcement notices.

   iii.        Delegate authority to the Director of Planning and Economic Development (after consultation with the Head of Legal Practice) to exercise the Council’s powers to take further action in the event of noncompliance with the enforcement notice.

Mr Brown (Agent) addressed the Committee.

The representation covered the following issues:

     i.        Did not accept that there had been a breach of control.

    ii.        C3 residential use had been given to the buildings.

   iii.        Officers were concentrating on the length of stay instead of the principle of building use ie the building was being used for residential purposes through short term lets.

  iv.        There were no complaints from neighbours.

   v.        If Councillors accepted the Officer’s recommendation to take enforcement action, a grace period was requested for the property owner to take action before enforcement action was taken.

Councillor Bick (Market Ward Councillor) addressed the Committee about the application.

The representation covered the following issues:

     i.        Spoke in support of the Officer’s recommendation to take enforcement action.

    ii.        The thirteen units should be for long term resident’s use not short term lets.

   iii.        There was a need for short term accommodation in the city, but not on this development.

  iv.        Any change of use for the site needed to go through formal consideration by Committee after an official application had been made.

The Committee:

Unanimously resolved (by 7 votes to 0) to accept the officer recommendation to authorise enforcement action.