HMO bid for former Royal British Legion site rejected for third time
Plans to transform an “eyesore” town centre site into housing for 17 people have once again been rejected by Cannock councillors after concerns were raised about who the future occupants may be.
Two previous bids to redevelop the former Royal British Legion Club site in Stafford Road, Cannock, into a house in multiple occupation (HMO) were refused permission by members of Cannock Chase Council because of the size and scale of the proposed building.
The first application sought consent for a 24-bedroom HMO and the second proposal was for an 18-bedroom HMO. Both cases went to appeal, where they were dismissed by planning inspectors.
The latest application was for a 17-bedroom HMO. Members of the council’s planning committee were told the new proposals aimed to address the visual issues that led to the previous appeal being dismissed.
But lack of car parking – another issue previously raised by councillors – was not considered a reason to dismiss the appeal, planning committee members heard on Wednesday. And the latest application was recommended for approval by planning officers ahead of Wednesday’s committee meeting (January 11).
Donna Savage, who spoke in support of the application at the meeting, said: “The only issue the inspector had was a side elevation, which we have reviewed and amended. I believe there are no reasons to refuse this application.
“We have submitted a management plan for how the site will be run. We will have a full-time caretaker who will be responsible for cleaning all communal areas, dealing with bins and living on site.”
Objectors to the plans were concerned about the type of residents the development would attract due to the proposed room sizes and type of accommodation planned however. Other issues raised included overdevelopment of the site and lack of parking and amenity space.
Bob Borg, who spoke against the application at Wednesday’s meeting, said: “This is the third application for the site. We have to live with the decision the committee makes and the type of people living there.
“The rooms are prison cell-sized and designed for the lower end of the market. We deal with professional people in our HMOs that we assist in and I don’t know of many professionals who don’t want parking spaces.”
Mr Borg said the site was in need of redevelopment though and committee members branded its current state an eyesore. A report to the committee said it had been vacant for several years and had fallen into disrepair
Councillor Andrea Muckley said: “I lived in a HMO at university – there are various reasons people may live in one. You can’t presume anything about someone living in a HMO and what type of person they are.
“The concept of HMOs is not an issue at all. My only concern is whether we are happy they have dealt with the elements the planning inspector has upheld.”
A proposal to approve the plans was put forward, but failed to gain enough support from committee members to be passed. They went on to refuse permission on the grounds of overdevelopment due to the number of occupants proposed for the HMO.
Councillor Lisa Wilson said: “If they are people off the council’s housing list there isn’t an issue. But I have had contact from residents who are concerned it is going to be occupied by people from outside Cannock who need to be accommodated with supervision.”
Councillor Adrienne Fitzgerald said: “It is an affluent area and there are already some issues there regarding drugs. I would hope we aren’t going to have people who cause problems in that area.
“It seems like often government organisations will buy properties to house people that haven’t always integrated well into society. People who live in that area should know what kind of people are moving there.”
