Issue - meetings

The Committee received an application for change of use from a small HMO (Use Class C4) to a 9 bed Large House in Multiple Occupation (use class sui generis) (re-submission of 21/04425/FUL).

The Committee received a representation in objection to the application from a resident of College Fields:

      i.          Expressed concern about the overdevelopment of College Fields with high density housing, and the related noise issues.

     ii.          College Fields was designed as an area made up of spacious apartments and family homes with the associated facilities, it was never meant to accommodate high density housing in the form of HMOs. There had been for some time now a creeping overdevelopment of the area with at least three HMOs (numbers 1, 8 and 49) and (suspected) more that were unregistered.

   iii.          The change of use for this property had already had a huge detrimental effect on its neighbours, with serious and persistent noise issues leading to formal complaints. Noted in the Committee Report there was mention of “appropriate management arrangements” to address this, with the Cambridge Local Plan being quoted, however in section 8.24 there was no mention of how the property’s management would actually take responsibility for noise issues, instead the usual Environmental Health route is cited.

   iv.          There was an assumption that noise was coming from overuse of garden. This was only part of the problem. In fact, the noise was  almost as bad, and sometimes worse, when the residents were in the living room with the patio doors open, as they were speaking over music and TV noise.

    v.          The developer attempted to portray their application as a philanthropic quest to provide housing, however that was simply a money making venture, from which the landlord stands to rake in another £20,000+ per year. Understand the need for more housing in the city, but these developments represent a step backwards and should be getting phased out, not green lit.

   vi.          Allowing yet another large HMO in College Fields took it over the tipping point for what was acceptable in terms of multiple occupancy housing in this area, and firmly into the definition of overdevelopment.

Mr Preston (Applicant’s Agent) addressed the Committee in support of the application.

Councillor Porrer proposed an amendment to the Officer’s recommendation to strengthen the management plan regarding noise mitigation.

This amendment was carried unanimously.

The Planning Officer  proposed an amendment to his recommendation in as much that cycle storage should be moved to the front of the house.

This amendment was carried unanimously.

The Committee:

Resolved (by 4 votes to 1) to grant the application for change of use in accordance with the Officer recommendation, for the reasons set out in the Officer’s report, subject to:

      i.          the planning conditions set out in the Officer’s report;

     ii.          delegated authority to officers, in consultation with the Chair, Vice Chair and Spokes, to draft and include the following:

a.    (additional condition) design and location of cycle store at front of house

b.    (amend) condition 6 to include noise in the management plan;