I've been receiving calls this week from constituents concerned about plans to convert a hotel on Kendrick Road in to an house of multiple occupation (HMO).
Residents are concerned about the impact that this change will have on the unique character of the Kendrick Road Conservation area.
Increasing numbers of private properties being turned into HMOs is a major issue in Redlands.
Residents associate it with the decline of the neighbourhood and many feel powerless to stop this deterioration from happening.
It also angers residents that development in Conservation areas (like the one on Kendrick Road) is not more tightly controlled by the Council.
In other boroughs such as Lib-Dem controlled Camden local residents living within Conservation areas have more chance to input to the planning process through Conservation area committees.
Glenn, Kirsten and I have helped focus the Labour-run Council's attention on this problem (which previously had been neglected for years) by campaigning for more effective regulation of HMOs and through our recent scrutiny review into private rented housing.
Residents have also expressed fears about the way the property will be managed - nearby long-term empty property 35 Christchurch Road (which I have campaigned for three years to be brought back into use) is managed by the same landlord.
And with good reason: residents are fearful the property on Kendrick Road will be left to get into a similarly poor state of repair.
A planning application for change of use has been submitted to Reading Borough Council. Any residents wishing to object to the application have until 3 September to submit objections in writing to the Council.
This application can be viewed online on the Council's planning website - the application reference number is: 09/01205/FUL.
Objections should be emailed or posted to Louisa Johnson c/o Planning Department, Civic Offices, Reading. Email: louisa.johnson@reading.gov.uk . Residents should focus their comments on planning reasons to refuse this application, namely:
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Design and appearance
- Overbearing
- Overlooking
- Overshadowing
- Impact on the character of the original building / area (this may include assessing how appropriate a use is for a site / in a area)
- Disturbance / detrimental impact on the amenity of neighbouring residents – this could include matters such as noise, air quality etc.
- Impact on the surrounding area in terms of air quality, increasing trips on the highways etc.
Residents can also request that certain conditions are attached to any planning consent to minimise the impact of the change of use on the local area.
Ordinarily these sorts of applications are decided by officers under so-called 'delegated powers'.
But I think this decision needs closer scrutiny by councillors.
In light of this I have written to the Chair of the Council's Planning Applications Committee, Cllr Jim Hanley, to request that the application be called in to give residents and myself opportunity to raise our concerns directly with Members and to help ensure as far as possible that what is proposed fits in with the local area.
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