43 Woodgrange Drive, Southend, Essex, SS1 2SD

change of use of a dwellinghouse C3 to a 7-bed sui generis house in multiple occupation (HMO) and refuse and cycle storage on site

Authority: Southend-on-Sea City Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Change of use
Inspector: Price J

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

Whether the proposal would provide adequate living conditions for future occupiers, with particular regard to the outlook from bedrooms 2, 5 and 6 and the accessibility of bathroom facilities for the latter

What decided it

The fallback position of lawful 6-bed HMO schemes at the property with identical outlook and lighting conditions, combined with comparable precedent from recent allowed HMO appeals in Southend, justified the conclusion that the constrained outlooks and shared bathroom facility would not result in unacceptable living conditions.

Plan policies cited: KP2, CP4, DM1, DM3, DM8

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