‘Concerns addressed’ as shared home approved

A property in Bath is to be turned into a seven-bedroom shared home after plans to make it a house in multiple occupation were approved.

Action Accommodation received planning permission to convert the home on Englishcombe Lane, but a proposal that would have seen two of the bedrooms left without windows has been abandoned.

Council officers described the plans to convert bedrooms without windows as “wholly unacceptable”, but did permit a bedroom in an outbuilding in the garden of the house despite objections.

Permission was granted after

Action Accommodation amended the original plans and changed the windowless rooms to a study and a bathroom. Two bedrooms that were in the original plan will be divided in half so the property will still house seven people.

This has led to concerns that the rooms may be too small, particularly if they are lived in by students.

Objecting to the application, Mr A Tadd said: “The resulting rooms are small, particularly if intended for students, as this will also be their personal study space. Fitting small desks in these rooms will be at best difficult.”

Locals also raised concerns that the outbuilding was not properly insulated and there would be no access for emergency vehicles.

The application was submitted by Action Accommodation’s Spencer Mildon, who said he had not been aware of all the criteria that change of use applications had to meet. He had intended to add a skylight to one of the windowless rooms but had been told this was not sufficient.

Mr Mildon thinks some opposition is due to locals’ dislike of student properties and shared houses. He said: “Being a landlord, we are always on the receiving end of anything to do with students.”

He added: “I was a student in Bath back in 2002. I think students have had a massive positive impact on the city overall.”

Councillor Paul Crossley, who represents Southdown on Bath and

North East Somerset Council, had requested that the original plans be brought before the planning committee due to “a number of controversial aspects to this application”.

Councillor Sally Davis, vice-chair of the planning committee said: “I have looked carefully at the application and comments from consultees, noting the ward councillor’s (Mr Crossley) planning committee request. I can see the officer has worked with the applicant to address concerns raised and modifications have been made so all bedrooms have natural light and size-wise all comply with minimum standards.”

Mr Mildon added: “The planning process has served its purpose well.”