Planning refusal will cost four figure sum

Decision by city council committee is overturned on appeal

A decision to refuse planning permission for a House of Multiple Occupation will cost Peterborough City Council a four-figure sum. The council’s planning committee, made up of councillors, voted against its officers’ recommendation for a sixbedroom HMO at Quinton Garth, Hartwell Court, West- wood.

The split five-four decision in October 2015 will now prove costly afteranappealto thePlanningInspectoratewas upheld, resulting in the committee’s decision being overturned and costs awarded.

Councillors had rejected the application as they believed intense use of the site would result in an “unacceptable vulnerability to and fear of crime.”

But Inspector Helen Cassini noted that the council had previously found the site acceptable for residential use and that there was no evidencethedevelopmentwould lead to a rise in crime.

CouncillorPeterHiller, the council’s cabinet member for housing and planning, who voted in favour of the HMO, said: “I said at the meeting I thought voting against our officers’ recommendation for this application waswrong and that the applicant had everyrighttoappealagainstit.

“Unusually it wasn’t a good decision bythe then planning committee members but I hope, going forward, we now balance unqualified minority opinion correctly against sound planning policy, officers’ recommendations and common sense.”

CommitteechairCllrChris Harper said residents were nervous about the development’s impactontheiramenity in theearlyevening, adding: “Losing at appeal and incurring costs is highly regrettable and we will do everything possible to ensure the lessons that canbelearntfromthisexperience are taken on board.”