COUNCILLORS have opposed plans for a HMO in the Dowlais area of Merthyr Tydfil because of concerns over parking and highway safety.
An application for a six-bed house in multiple occupation at 1 Cwm Cottages in Walter Street, Dowlais, went before the council’s planning committee on Wednesday, June 4 but councillors voted against the officer recommendation to approve it.
Councillor Declan Sammon had requested that the application be considered by the planning committee to deliberate on the concerns raised by local residents, which include the impact the proposal would have on parking availability, on-street congestion, highway safety and pedestrian safety.
There were eight letters of objection and a petition signed by 40 people.
The objections raise concerns about criminal activity and anti-social behaviour and the type of people that may occupy the property.
They said Walter Street was a narrow road and any works which might be undertaken to the property would obstruct the main highway and prevent residents from accessing their property.
They added that the area suffered from severe problems with limited parking availability and congestion and that the HMO would result in disruptions and other nuisances that would deteriorate the existing quiet and safe street.
In the planning report, officers said that the future occupiers of the property was a matter that could not be controlled through the planning process.
They said that if there was any obstruction of the highway during the works, that would be addressed by the council’s engineering and highways department.
They also said that as the property would continue to be used for residential purposes, the proposal would not be considered significantly different to the existing use that might otherwise be detrimental to nearby occupiers.
In terms of parking availability and congestion, they said that despite the proposed increase in the number of bedrooms, the parking requirements associated with a six-bedroom HMO would not differ to that associated with the existing five-bedroom dwelling.
The head of engineering and highways has not raised any concerns or objections to the change of use, as the deficit in parking continues to be a maximum of three parking spaces, whether it is used as a five-bedroom residential property or a six-bedroom HMO.
They said the application site lay near residential streets which benefited from unrestricted on-street parking provision.
The planning report said the site lay within 250m of Victoria Street which had shops, services and public transport where the use of more sustainable modes of transport could be encouraged.
It added that it was not considered that the lack of on-site parking would give rise to any significant highway or pedestrian safety concerns.
In terms of on-street congestion and the additional parking pressures that this proposed use could place upon the local area, the report said that the merits of the development should also take into account that a house could normally accommodate up to six people living together as a single household without the need for planning permission.
So it said that the impact of the proposed development upon highway and pedestrian safety would not warrant the refusal of the application.
