Long Sutton Parish Council and residents voice concerns over HMO and bedsit plans for Brenchley House

Concerns were raised at a ‘heated meeting’ over plans to convert a Grade II listed building into housing for 31 tenants.

Long Sutton Parish Council met with residents and developers to discuss plans to convert 39 and 43 West Street into two Housing of Multiple Occupation (HMO) and a bedsit.

Some 64 people attended the meeting last Thursday to raise concerns about lack of public consultation, refuse and recycling facilities, impact on services and parking.

IMN Properties has applied to South Holland District Council to convert the former National Westminster Bank and Brenchley House.

Coun Robbie Woods, county councillor for The Suttons, said: “The meeting was interesting, the developers came with a representative and it got a bit heated at times between them and the residents in attendance.

“It gave me, the parish council and the residents a better idea of what we’re dealing with, although there are still some grey areas.

“The parish council has a big list of objections they wish to take to South Holland District Council.”

Developers were asked to put together a management plan clearly outlining “how people considered for the HMO are vetted, what rules will be in place and how they will deal with antisocial behaviour”.

Coun Woods added: “The additional 31 people in the area will indisputably have an impact on local services, whether that be schools or doctors’ appointments, which the community is already struggling with.

“The police have responded online that they have no objections, which has amazed me after hearing the residents' concerns last night.”

Long Sutton Parish Council will be making further objections concerning the number of tenants intended for the premises and the size of the accommodation.

Chairman John Clarey oversaw the meeting, which included members of neighbouring St Mary’s Church, Long Sutton’s Food Larder and the District Civic Society.

Representatives from the foodbank emphasised the service was already ‘over capacity in providing food for the town due to the current financial crisis.’

They added that if prospective tenants are from the homeless community, the foodbank would be ‘overwhelmed.’

Some residents neighbouring Benchley House stated they had not been consulted in writing about the application, and they said planning notices were not visible.

Four car parking spaces are allocated in the plans along with storage for 34 bicycles.

The parish council says it will be using the refusal of another housing planning application due to lack of parking in its arguments.

Documents submitted on behalf of IMN Properties state: “The vast majority of the buildings are in residential use and therefore the change of use to create HMOs will not significantly affect the character of the buildings in terms of how they are used, given that both existing and proposed uses are effectively the same.”

Two business people were in support of the application, which states there is an “identified need”.

A spokesperson from South Holland District Council said: “As with all applications submitted, this proposal will be assessed in the normal and proper manner, in line with all relevant national planning legislation and policies in place.

“As always, resident and local c upon the application is welcome via its planning portal entry, for consideration as part of the decision process.”