PLANS to turn a residential property in Caerau Bridgend into a house in multiple occupation (HMO) have been approved by the local council.
The plans were given the go-ahead by councillors at a planning committee meeting held on March 19, following discussions and a report from planning officers.
They will now see a change of use granted for a four-bedroom residential dwelling located on Humphreys Terrace in Caerau to become five-bedroom HMO.
They will also see internal changes for developers to create an additional front bedroom and will also include one bathroom and separate W/C and communal shared facilities.
Councillors Paul Davies and Chris Davies both objected to the application citing concerns over a lack of parking provision, a lack of storage space for refuse and recycling, and a reduction in the family housing stock for local residents.
They also feared there could be an over concentration of HMO’s in the Caerau area with several others said to be within a short distance of the proposed site.
Cllr Paul Davies said: “We’re aware that HMO’s have a place in the housing mix but we don’t believe that this particular property is the right location to fit this sort of development.”
Nine letters of objection and a community petition with 31 signatures were also received by the authority over the plans.
Planning officers speaking at the meeting said they recommended the change of use for approval as it was considered appropriate in terms of policy and had no formal consultee objections.
They also said there were no other HMO’s within a 50m buffer, adding that they felt there would be no detriment with regards to highway safety and parking arrangements.
Councillor Jonathan Pratt proposed an amendment to keep the property as a four bedroom HMO which would be more in-line with the original design of the house, though officers said they would have to determine the application that was put before them.
The plans were later approved by a vote of five members for, and four members against.
