'No adverse impact' - Plan submitted for new Jarrow HMO
Plans have been submitted for a new four-bed HMO in Jarrow.
Plans for a new four-bedroom house in multiple occupation (HMO) in the Jarrow area have been submitted.
The application to South Tyneside Council is for 54 Kent Street in the borough's Monkton ward. It seeks permission to change use from a residential dwelling to a four-bedroom, four-person, small HMO.
This would include two en-suite bedrooms and a communal living and kitchen area on the ground floor, and two en-suite bedrooms on the first floor, along with a rear yard.
The application falls against a backdrop of a decision by South Tyneside Council last year to launch an “immediate” borough-wide Article 4 Direction removing permitted development rights for small HMOs.
This means that planning permission is now needed for all HMOs across the borough.
HMO will provide ‘high quality shared-accommodation’
A planning statement submitted to council officials notes the proposed Kent Street HMO would "provide high-quality shared accommodation" while "responding to local housing demand".
It says the bedrooms would be single occupancy and that the proposed accommodation "significantly exceeds national minimum space standards and aligns with local HMO expectations".
This includes all rooms being double-sized, providing high-quality living environments and adequate communal amenity space for four occupants.
‘Not materially different from a typical family household’
Those behind the HMO plan added that the "level of occupation (four individuals) is not materially different from a typical family household" and that "the layout includes a generous communal space, supporting internalised activity and reducing disturbance".
On highways and parking matters, the application states that HMOs of this size are usually occupied by people with lower car ownership rates, so the scale of occupation would be "unlikely to generate parking demand beyond that of a typical dwelling".
It adds: "The scheme delivers high-quality accommodation exceeding minimum standards.
"It retains the residential character of the area, has no adverse impact on neighbouring amenity or highways and aligns with national and local planning policy objectives.
"On this basis, the proposal is considered acceptable, and planning permission should be granted."
A decision on the planning application is expected following a council consultation exercise.
For more information on the HMO plan, or to track its progress, visit South Tyneside Council’s planning portal website and search for reference: 260198