Long Sutton Parish Council holding public meeting to discuss plans to turn listed building into HMO
A parish council is holding a public meeting tonight over plans for a Grade II listed building.
Long Sutton Parish Council met last Thursday and resolved to ‘vociferously object’ to the planned conversion of 39 and 43 West Street into two HMOs and a bedsit.
It has also called a public consultation meeting tonight with South Holland District Council (SHDC) and has invited ward members, county councillors and representatives of SHDC’s planning team to answer questions regarding the National Westminster Bank and Brenchley House application.
A line in the planning documents states there is an ‘identified need’.
The council is seeking advice about how the application has been handled by planning officers and disagree that Long Sutton requires another HMO.
In an objection statement, the council said: “The town already has two listed buildings being used as HMOs and both are within two minutes’ walk of this proposed conversion.”
It says the proposed accommodation would be for a total of 31 residents split between the two properties. A portion of the building is currently used as office space, but this would be lost under the new layout. The applicant says the office ceased trading a while ago and that there is ‘no appetite’ for anyone to take it on.
The proposals would see 39 West Street become nine two-person rooms, a one-person room and one person bed-sit while 43 West Street would accommodate three two-person rooms and five one-person rooms.
Members of the parish council state that “to increase the occupancy by such a large amount is unacceptable at the expense of the previous tenants being vacated”.
They also feel it will affect the present setting by “having two HMOs and a bed sit housing 31 tenants without outside space next to a Grade I listed church, in the conservation area and next to the war memorial in the main focal and business area of the town”.
The objection goes on to say: “It is unacceptable that two HMOs and a bedsit are proposed within such an important part of the town.”
Councillors are also concerned about parking arrangements, refuse collection and the loss of family accommodation.
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.”
The council has said it urges “all residents, local organisations and local businesses to attend” the meeting which takes place tonight at the parish meeting room off London Road at 7pm.
