A councillor is to act as "peacemaker" in a row between residents over a neighbour's scheme to convert a large detached house into five apartments. The plan to turn the house at the end of cul-de-sac on Marston Road in the Broughton Park area of Salford has been given the go-ahead by councillors on the city's planning and transportation regulatory panel.
They approved it in the face of objections from 14 objections from neighbouring residents, although a further 12 submitted supporting letters. Shimen Lebrecht, who runs a company called Nailsbourne Ltd, based in Tully Street, Salford, is the applicant and is a neighbour of the objectors.
Three residents turned up at the panel meeting to voice their concerns but did not want to be named when approached by the Local Democracy Reporting Service. They said the proposal would result in "intensification of use" not in keeping with the type of housing in the area - predominantly detached and semi-detached.
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They said repairmen, delivery vans and visitors of the previous occupants of the house "frequently blocked" driveways to neighbouring houses. The conversion to five flats is "out of character for the area where there are large family homes", they said.
Vehicle access of nearby Merrybower Road would cause noise and vibration to neighbouring properties, it was claimed. They also said there was only one car parking space to the front of the house and the flats would bring more traffic to the area which would "affect the residential amenity of neighbours".
There were also fears that the development could end up being used for short-term lettings. The panel was told that the majority of supporting letters were from addresses "outside of the vicinity of the site".
They also said there was a "shortage and demand for flats in the community". Ward councillor for Kersal and Broughton Park Arnold Saunders told the panel said on behalf of the residents: "We are in a very difficult position.
"This is not because the residents are opposing some faceless landlord. The applicant lives nearby. It is upsetting, disappointing and almost embarrassing that we have reached this stage."
He said he had tried to get both sides around the table. Coun Saunders said the applicant had agreed to come to a meeting with the residents and "would not lay a brick" without consultation. "I am putting my good offices at the disposal of both sides to try to get the best result," he said.
Coun Philip Cusack said he "took on board the parking issue", but went on to say: "It's an issue across many parts of Salford where we've got houses built in the 20th century built with much lower levels of car ownership in mind.
"I can't see how this particular proposal will exacerbate that problem. We've got a large housing requirement in Salford and this is a large building that has something that other parts of the city are crying out for.
"Although I understand the residents' concerns about intensity, we always come across issues where there is a conversion resulting in flats in any area of Salford. On balance, I think this is one of the better opportunities for conversion."
However, the scheme was opposed by Bob Clarke, who said the building was never designed to have as many as 22 people living in it. "I find it totally inappropriate," he said. "Two of the apartments will have no natural light in their bathroom. We shouldn't be putting people in homes like that."
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