Decision details

To seek approval to consult on the first draft supplementary planning document for houses in multiple occupation.

That, having considered the recommendations of the Strategic Planning Board,:

1          the Draft Houses in Multiple Occupation Supplementary Planning Document be approved for six weeks of public consultation, subject to the following amendments being made:

•          in considering proposals for HMOs, details of proposed sound insulation measures shall be provided with planning applications and such measures should ensure that any noise arising from the use of the dwelling as a HMO does not have an adverse impact upon the amenity of adjacent dwellings;

•          in respect of paragraph 5.16 of the document the text should be clarified to refer to a single person or two persons;

•          all bedrooms should have at least one opening window;

•          in respect of paragraph 5.22 of the document it should be amended to read as follows ‘any proposed parking must not result in the loss of front gardens and/or boundary walls.

2          the associated Strategic Environmental Assessment and Habitats Regulations Screening Report and the associated Equalities Impact Assessment Screening Report be published along with the Draft Houses in Multiple Occupation Supplementary Planning Document.

The preparation of a Supplementary Planning Document is one of a range of measures currently being considered by the Council in order to better manage concentrations of HMOs and improve standards.

A Supplementary Planning Document is not part of the statutory development plan. It is a recognised way of putting in place additional planning guidance which will be a material consideration in determining applications involving relevant planning proposals.

The Council could choose not to prepare a Supplementary Planning Document for HMOs. Any planning applications for HMOs would be assessed against existing planning policies.

While there is no requirement to produce an Supplementary Planning Document to support the introduction of Article 4 Directions, it is often considered best practice to do so. The Supplementary Planning Document will strengthen the policy framework when determining planning applications for HMOs and in defending subsequent appeals made against refused proposals.

The Supplementary Planning Document would be a material consideration in the determination of all planning applications for changes of use to HMOs across the Borough and not just those dwellings that may be affected by an Article 4 Direction (once brought into effect).