®Planning appeal decision
Wessex House, Fir Vale Road , Bournemouth , BH1 2JG
change of use from hostel to HMO
- Authority
- Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Change of use
- Inspector
- Sutton A
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the proposal on the availability of tourist accommodation in the town, having regard to the tourism industry in the area
- whether the proposal would provide satisfactory living conditions for future occupants, with particular regard to communal living space
- the effect of the proposal on the integrity of the Dorset Heathland, which comprises protected habitat areas
What decided it
The proposal failed on three independent grounds: loss of viable tourist accommodation contrary to Policy CS28, inadequate communal living space contrary to Policy CS41, and unmitigated adverse effects on Dorset Heathland integrity contrary to Policy CS33, with the latter also engaging the exception to the tilted balance under NPPF paragraph 182.
The limited weight given to housing supply and the principle of HMO development was outweighed by the significant harm to tourism, unsatisfactory living conditions for future residents, and unmitigated adverse effects on protected habitats; the tilted balance did not apply due to the likely significant effect on habitats sites without appropriate assessment.
Framework references: 11, 182
Plan policies cited: Policy CS28, Policy CS41, Policy CS33
The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.