COUNCILLORS have voted against plans for a four-bedroom HMO in a Cynon Valley street.
The application for a change of use of an existing house to a four-bedroom house in multiple occupation in Mount Pleasant Terrace, Mountain Ash, went before Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) Council’s planning committee on Thursday, February 13.
Committee voted against officer recommendations to approve it based on parking concerns, inadequate amenities. and inadequate outside amenity.
The application will come back to committee for the strengths and weaknesses of making such a decision to be considered.
The planning report said the change of use would be implemented without the need for any internal alterations or external works to the property.
The house would continue to provide a living room, kitchen, bathroom, and entrance hallway at ground-floor level and four bedrooms at first-floor level.
No off-street parking provision is proposed and due to the property being mid-terrace and with no rear lane access there is no scope to provide any, the report said, and the main access would be off Mount Pleasant Terrace to the front.
Three letters of objection have been received following public consultation including a petition signed by 46 local residents.
They said there have been issues with previous tenants including noise disturbance and damage to the property adding that the property has not been managed very well.
They said the change of use will cause noise disturbance to existing residents, the majority of whom are elderly, and the parking is already very restricted and limited with the HMO potentially bringing an additional four vehicles to the street.
They said that four tenants in one dwelling will mean lots of comings and goings and general disturbance and that there is already a lot of anti-social behaviour in the street which may be exacerbated.
The objectors also said that if approved other landlords may follow suit, reducing the number of family homes available to rent in the area.
They said the waste generated will be a nuisance as the residents could potentially put out 12 black bags for collection every three weeks and they said that terraced houses in general are not suitable for use as HMOs.
They added that the increased population density will put additional pressure on local services and claimed the presence of an HMO will negatively impact property values in the area.
They said that increased occupancy levels can heighten the risk of fire and other safety issues and that ensuring compliance with safety regulations in HMOs can be challenging.
And they said that the change in housing dynamics may erode the fabric of the community, leading to a less stable and harmonious living environment.
Councillor Ross Williams said it was a very small property in a very tight street. He added that access to the street isn’t great and he also raised the issue of parking.
He said: “This is inadequate for me.”
In recommending approval planning officers said the proposed change of use to an HMO would be in keeping with certain policies of the Rhondda Cynon Taf local development plan and national policy in that a continued residential use would be compatible with the surrounding land uses and would not result in an adverse impact upon either the character of the site, the amenity of neighbouring occupiers, or highway safety.
