Joy as student homes plan appeal rejected
NEIGHBOURS are celebrating after the appeal to overturn the rejection of a plans for a student house in Peet Avenue was dismissed.
The owner of No 30 had submitted a planning application to convert the former family home into a five bed student in multiple occupation (HMO).
Knowsley Ward’s Cllr Gareth Dowling called the application in to be heard before West Lancashire Borough Council’s planning committee in July 2018.
Large numbers of concerned neighbours and residents attended the meeting to show their objection, which Cllr Nikki Hennessy spoke against as the ward councillor.
Following deliberation by the committee, fellow Knowsley Ward councillor Adam Yates moved for the application to be rejected, against the officers’ recommendations, on the grounds of loss of amenity, which was supported by the majority of the committee.
The applicant then appealed to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to overrule the decision.
Cllr Nikki Hennessy said: “I am absolutely delighted for the residents of Peet Avenue and Ryburn Road that the Planning Inspectorate has sided with ward councillors and residents and refused to allow this student HMO go ahead.
“We have worked hard with the residents to put forward the strongest possible objections.
“There were huge emotions about this application with some in tears and fearful of the change in their living amenity.
“Everyone needs to live somewhere, but we need to be sensible and sensitive to different areas and the end of this quiet cul-de-sac was most definitely not the place for this HMO. As a council, we have worked hard to reduce the number of HMOs in Ormskirk and encourage purpose built accommodation, particularly on campus, despite the national regulations often working in favour of developers. This is a great result for residents across Ormskirk.”