A Bootle resident has claimed the area is being "saturated" with houses of multiple occupation (HMOs) as Sefton Council looks set to grant permission for a neighbouring house to be converted into bedsits.
Plans were submitted to the local authority last year to convert the property at Worcester Road in Bootle.
According to a report produced ahead of a planning meeting due to take place at Bootle Town Hall tomorrow, January 8, council officers acknowledge there was not a “complete and accurate record” of the number of HMOs in the borough.
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Although a directive has been issued in Sefton, meaning that permitted development rights have been removed for houses of multiple occupation, the council does not know how many “unlicensed” HMOs are operating that were set up before the introduction of the rule.
Despite this, the planning report states that there is no known “overconcentration” of HMOs in the area. Current local planning rules state an overconcentration is when more than 10% of properties are houses of multiple occupation.
However, one resident, who submitted an objection to the application said the area has become “over saturated” with bedsits, which is affecting the quality of life of local residents.
Submitting three separate objections to the plans, the local resident said: “Sefton council really need to clamp down on these developments and developers cashing in cheap developments for sky high rents.”
He added: “50 metres one HMO is laughable – this area is over saturated with HMOs” and also stated “There is a huge amount of HMOs within this area so please do your research on unlicensed HMOs.”
In response to the objections raised, the planning officer’s report stated: “With regard to the neighbour comments about unregistered HMO’s the only address provided was no. 49 Worcester Road which has been included in the assessment carried out by the Local Plans team.
“It is acknowledged that the Council might not have granted permission for all HMOs if for example they converted using permitted development rights before the Article 4 Direction was confirmed and do not trigger the need for licensing.”
According to the report, given there is only one known HMO operating in the area, the council therefore deems that a further HMO in the area would be acceptable.
In addition, the report notes that a management plan has been submitted by the applicant, which provides contact details in case of emergencies, a garden management and waste strategy and an agreement to keep records of complaints for 18 months.
The requirements for a management plan were recently added into a special planning document the council is implementing in an attempt to control and regulate the growth of HMOs in the borough, with this application the first being brought to the committee demonstrating compliance with the new rules.
A condition is also recommended to ensure noise mitigation measures to reduce the risk of nuisance to residents living in the property and in neighbouring houses.
Concluding that on balance the application is acceptable, on the grounds that “the commitment to the enhanced soundproofing and Management Plan would ensure that the property provides suitable living accommodation for the occupiers of the rooms and the living conditions of the neighbouring properties”, officers have recommended approval of the plans.
Councillors will now meet to decide whether they will allow the conversion to go ahead when they meet at Bootle Town Hall at 6.30pm tomorrow.
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