CONTROVERSIAL plans for an HMO in Merthyr Tydfil have been officially rejected by councillors.
The council’s planning committee confirmed its decision to refuse plans to turn a property in Ninth Avenue, Galon Uchaf, into an HMO (house in multiple occupation) for five people at a meeting on Wednesday, October 9.
The committee had voted against officer recommendations at a meeting in September on the grounds of highway safety and the character of the area.
And now their reasons for refusal have been confirmed which include that the development would give rise to an increase in the level of on-street parking and congestion to the detriment of highway safety and the nature of the residential use would be at odds with the existing housing in the area to the detriment of the character of the area.
In June the committee had decided to carry out a site visit for this application.
Councillor David Isaac had requested the application be decided by the committee to consider the concerns raised by local residents which included the potential impact on the character of the area, residential amenity, and highway safety.
There were 48 letters of objection received by the council in relation to this application and three petitions objecting to the development with a total of 425 signatures.
The main concerns included that it was an unsuitable location, the impact upon parking and highway safety, the over-intensification of use, that it would be detrimental to the community, safety and wellbeing concerns, concerns over anti-social or criminal behaviour, the devaluation of properties, and that it was close to school and nursery facilities and close to children’s playing fields.
Officers had recommended approval saying the proposal would provide much-needed housing of an affordable nature in a time of economic hardship.
