Appeal to overturn decision to refuse HMO plans dismissed by inspectorate

An appeal against a decision to refuse a House of Multiple Occupation (HMO) in Wrexham town centre has been dismissed by the Welsh Government’s planning inspector.

The three-bedroom property had previously been used as a five-bedroom HMO but without a licence or change of use planning permission.

Towards the end of last year, Wrexham Council officials confirmed the failure to obtain a licence for the house on Watery Road, near Island Green retail park, had led to legal action being taken against the owners and a fine being issued.

The applicants, Darren Evans and Chris Tye, applied to gain retrospective planning permission to change the use of the building to a HMO, and the plans went in front of Wrexham Council’s planning committee earlier this year in January.

Planning officers advised granting the proposal but councillors heard opposition from community leaders about the growing number of HMO’s in that part of town, concerns about parking, and decided to refuse the plans. They said it would add to existing parking problems in the area.

The applicants appealed the decision in February and sought to have it overturned stating that the parking issue was being caused by people who work in the town centre using the street to park their cars.

In an appeal statement, they said: “As a three or four-bedroom dwelling previously, parking would have always been an issue at the property.

“In our experience as HMO landlords and the location of our properties, we find our tenants rarely own a vehicle so feel parking is less of an issue than if a family of four were living there.

“The planning department also agree that tenants are less likely to own a car.

“Parking does seem to be an issue on this road, but our own research shows this is due to workers in Wrexham using it as free parking during the day and not the residents.”

But the council’s planning committee decision has now been backed by the Welsh Government’s appointed planning inspector Clive Sproule.

After making a site visit last month, he has cited the impact on the character of the location in relation to an “increased concentration of HMO’s” and highway safety in relation to on-street parking, as the two reasons for refusal.

Writing to dismiss the appeal, he said: “In reaching my decision, I have taken into account the requirements of sections 3 and 5 of the Well-Being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.

“I consider that this decision is in accordance with the Act’s sustainable development principle through its contribution towards the Welsh Ministers’ well-being objective of making our cities, towns and villages even better places in which to live and work.”

The decision can be viewed in full on the planning section of Wrexham Council’s website.

By Rory Sheehan – BBC Local Democracy Reporter