No planning permission for home - but it is already built
CONSTRUCTION work is welladvanced on a four-bedroom home on the end of a row of terrace houses in Leicester – even though planning permission has been refused.
The new property in Broad Avenue, in Spinney Hills ward, has been blocked by Leicester City Council planning officers as it would intrude into the garden of its would-be neighbours.
However, the application has been made retrospectively as work has already started on the proposed property.
Without planning permission, an enforcement notice could be issued, meaning the site would need to be returned to its former state.
A report by a council officer stated the finished property, which was intended as a house of multiple occupation (HMO), would cut the outside space available to the neighbours by almost 55 per cent.
It said: “There was 120 sq.m of amenity space to the side and rear. As a result of the construction of the new HMO, the bin storage and the cycle storage, there would only be 55 sq.m of amenity space.
“The proposal also introduces parking spaces used by occupiers of the new (house) and installs a bike shed into the main side area of the amenity space which makes that space less usable.
“As a result, the occupants of (next door) no longer enjoy any privacy when using their side/rear amenity space.”
Concerns were also voiced by other residents of the street, with 14 objections being raised from 11 addresses. However, it was not because of these that the application was denied.
Chief among concerns was the impact on parking and the fact the house was intended as an HMO, where tenants rent out bedrooms on an individual basis and share areas, such as the kitchen.
One neighbour said: “The extra vehicles in the area will only exacerbate an already congested area. This will only fuel roadside discord which will be a catalyst in creating disharmony within a peaceful community.”
Another said: “My main cause for concern is how detrimental this would be to the parking on our street. Most residents already have more than one vehicle and I regularly have to park a few streets away as there is often no parking on the street.
“Having an HMO on the street would mean multiple persons who may have several vehicles. If it were to remain normal use then it wouldn’t be as bad as it would be a family home.”
A few of the objectors also raised concerns about the type of neighbours they might end up having.
The officer said: “I acknowledge the concerns raised in the objections about the suitability of the site for a HMO.
“Related issues raised including the potential tenants or property values are not for consideration in the planning system.”
PROPERTY MAY HAVE