Decision time is looming for bedsit plans
THE controversial conversion of disused Accrington pub into 13 bedsits was due to be debated by councillors this week.
Mudassar Iqbal, of the Burnley-based Blackwood Invest Group Ltd, wants to turn the empty shell of The Britannia in Nuttall Street into a house in multiple occupation.
Officers at Hyndburn
Council have recommended the scheme for 13 bedsit flats with shared lounges is refused planning permission.
A supporting statement to planners by Peak Architecture said: “It is the applicant’s intention to re-purpose the building to provide much-needed residential accommodation. The building forms a gateway to the Woodnook regeneration area.”
But the report by planning officers tells Hyndburn Planning Committee: “One letter of objection has been submitted raising concerns about noise from the proposed development.
“Although the former public house may have some heritage value by virtue of its age and design, no significant external alterations are proposed and putting the building back into an acceptable use would help secure long term protection of the former public house.
“Although the applicant has submitted a marketing report that maintains there have been attempts to attract investors, no details of how this has been done have been provided.
“Unfortunately the inside of the public house has been gutted, an action that has made the re-use of the public house significantly more expensive and less likely.
“Four of the bedrooms would not meet the minimum standard for single bedrooms.
“No outdoor amenity space is provided and communal living space is not provided on every floor, meaning that residents would be expected to spend much of their time within their own rooms which are to perform a greater function than just a sleeping space.”
The report recommends planning permission be refused because: “The applicant has failed to demonstrate that the former public house has been marketed for a consistent period of 12 months and that the public house is no longer economically viable,”
It adds: “The proposed development has not been designed to meet the standards required to the detriment of the amenity of future residents.”