Object

Representation ID: 66645

Received: 26/06/2014

Respondent: Place Partnership Limited (PPL)

Legally compliant? Yes

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Yes

Overall, we welcome and support the proposed policy approach by the Council to control the location of new Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO's).
Alongside the problems associated with such properties identified in paragraphs 4.60-4.66, we would add that HMOs are also frequently recorded for breaches of fire safety regulations. They are also amongst the most common type of domestic dwelling for where crimes against the occupants take place. Other typical problems associated with such properties include increased levels of burglary and a proliferation of on-street parking, which prevents ease of access by emergency vehicles. Such problems are multiplied exponentially where HMOs are concentrated in particular areas.
Despite these common and well documented problems, policy H6 to our concern makes no reference to them at all in the proposed criteria for assessing whether planning permission should be granted for HMOs. We therefore ask that the amendments proposed below are made to policy H6.