HMO Plans For Pen-Y-Bryn Retail Space Recommended For Approval

Plans to convert retail space in Pen-Y-Bryn into a House Multiple Occupation have been recommended for approval, despite facing opposition from local residents.

The application to convert both the ground and first floors of 64 Pen-Y-Bryn into a House Multiple Occupation (HMO) will go before members of Wrexham’s planning committee next week.

If approved the building would be spilt into ten separate rooms, five bedrooms are created on each floor along with a shared kitchen. Each bedroom would also have its own private en-suite.

The plans have been criticised by the local community council, who say the application is contrary to Policy S5 and S9, which states that ‘any change of use which would adversely affect the vitality and viability of defined district shopping centres will not be allowed’.

They also raise serious concerns about the inadequate parking provision and call for the ground floor of the property to be retained for shopping or office usage.

Local member for the Offa ward, Cllr Alun Jenkins has also voiced strong opposition to the proposals, stating that the application should be refused in its present form.

In his argument against the redevelopment, Cllr Jenkins states that the creation of a further HMO causes ‘major concern in the area for a number of other reasons too, due to the location of the property, the severe parking difficulties already experienced in the area, and impact on adjoining business users’.

He also notes: “The submitted plans show the removal of the present frontage at 64 Penybryn, and its replacement with an alien and featureless housing frontage which would without doubt detract from the appearance of the area, and adversely affect the “vitality and viability” of the shopping area.

“Any redevelopment of the site needs to retain the shopping frontage of the building, and the use of the ground floor needs to be retained as a shopping or office use.”

However in a report due before councillors next week, it is argued that the change of use into a HMO would not ‘adversely impact on the character of the area given the low percentage of HMOs in the vicinity of the site’.

The report continues onto say: “The loss of one unit within the District Shopping Centre will not compromise the vitality or viability of the area and the removal of the proposed shop front and replacement with a brick façade with windows, sympathetic to nearby residential properties on Ruabon Road, will ensure the character of the area is respected.

“I am satisfied from a highway perspective that the building’s existing use could have had the potential to generate significantly increased vehicular movements if used for other more intensive retail / office use.

“Whilst only one parking space is available, given the location in the District Shopping Centre, on a bus route and within a relatively short distance of the Town Centre and all the relevant facilities I would anticipate that many of the occupants will not need to rely on a car.”

The application will go before members of Wrexham’s planning committee at 4pm on Monday 3rd July. The meeting will also be webcast live on the Wrexham Council website.