Revised plans to increase number of bedrooms at Wrexham HMO submitted

Plans to increase the number of rooms a house in multiple occupation (HMO) in Wrexham have been submitted.

In the application lodged with Wrexham Council it has been proposed that the property at 27 Poplar Road is converted from a six bedroom HMO to seven.

The three storey property, which currently consists of six en suite bedrooms, was converted into a Class C4 HMO in 2012.

A design and access statement submitted alongside the application, says: “27 Poplar Road is planning to be used as seven bedroom house in multiple occupation (single occupancy), with each bedroom having its own private en-suite, the kitchen will be shared.

“Outside there is currently a bin store, cycle parking area, the drive area with two off-road car parking spaces. There is an inner court yard for drying area for laundry and front garden recreational use, there is no plan to change this.

“Internally the ground floor will have two bedrooms and a shared kitchen, the first floor will have three bedrooms and the second floor will have two bedrooms.”

Earlier this month it was reported that an appeal had been launched by the applicant over Wrexham Council’s decision to refuse plans for an additional two rooms at the property, had been rejected by a planning inspector.

The inspector, appointed by the Welsh Government, said she felt the plans would impact on the safety of drivers at a busy junction.

In the revised application, it is noted: “Whilst there is a minimal increase in the maximum car parking requirement (from four to five), the site is within walking distance of the town centre with a wide range of retail and leisure facilities as well as frequent public transport which will encourage reduced reliance on the car as a means of transport.

“An assessment of vehicles per bedspace conducted in 2016 and again in 2017, showed that on average there is one vehicle per six bedspaces. This assessment was conducted across 15o rooms within Wrexham town centre.”

The new application will be considered for approval at a later date.