A CONTROVERSIAL retrospective bid to convert a home to a six-bedroom House of Multiple Occupation (HMO) in Llandudno has been put on hold after councillors voted for a site visit.
Applicant Xiaoli is seeking retrospective permission to change the use of 3 Rosebery Avenue, Craig-y-Don, from a three-storey family home to a six-bed HMO.
Planning documents state the property has operated as an HMO since at least October 2023.
At November’s planning committee meeting at Conwy’s Coed Pella HQ, planning officers had recommended the committee be “minded to approve” the application, but residents raised concerns.
Speaking against the proposal, resident Jodie Cook said: “I initially contacted the planning department in September 2023 to raise conditions of a licence that were granted to 3 Rosebery Avenue were being breached by having too many tenants and not being registered with Rent Smart Wales.”
He added: “The parking at the end of the Street was already acute and frequently hazardous to pedestrians before 3 Rosebery Avenue took in its first tenants.”
Mr Cook claimed there were 16 flats at nearby Queens Court and eight flats at Rosebery Court, arguing neither development had adequate parking.
He said the council should not be “rewarding and authorising developments who flout regulations”.
Tensions rose in the chamber during the meeting, and Cllr Ifor called for decorum after repeated interruptions from a member of the public, who was asked to leave.
Parking pressures were also raised by councillors.
Cllr David Carr said: “We introduced parking (charges) on the prom. I think it was Cllr Goronwy (Edwards) who was the cabinet member that was responsible for that particular order, wasn’t it?
“It always causes problems when you do that, and we have to be mindful that the Welsh Government tell us parking charges are only supposed to be to manage traffic, not to get income for the council. This is one of the side effects we are warned against.”
He said residents were parking on nearby streets to avoid charges.
He added: “People always try to avoid parking charges.”
Several councillors backed delaying the decision.
Cllr Dave Jones said: “We should defer and have a site visit.”
Cllr Nigel Smith also agreed.
Cllr Chris Cater said: “We all know that HMOs are acceptable in some locations. I would like the committee to go to this location and just walk around the block because I think it will be obvious that there is a high concentration (of HMOs).
“Whether they are registered or not, the officers can just double check on that. Perhaps one of the housing officers could do a little bit of research for us in the area, but certainly we should have a look at the site of this one to make sure that we are not over concentrating HMO provision in one part of Llandudno.”
He proposed deferral. This was seconded by Cllr Carr, and members voted in favour of a site visit, delaying any final decision.
