House extension plan is turned down
Plans to build a two-storey extension on a house in Wolverhampton and change it into a multiple occupation residence (HMO) for five people have been rejected following concerns over inadequate parking and road safety.
City council planners had initially recommended that the application for the property at 141 Victoria Road, Fallings Park, be given approval.
However, following a site visit and after hearing from a resident speaking on behalf of neighbours and Heath Town ward councillors, members decided against granting approval for the plans.
The house is currently a three-bedroom semi-detached property with parking space for two small cars in a street which has residences of varying age, size and style.
Planning bosses had received eight objections to the extension on the grounds of the impact it would have on local peak-time traffic and the difficulty presented to nearby residents in manoeuvring off drives.
Local resident Pete Norton told the meeting this week: “The area around this road is already suffering with an overspill of cars from New Cross Hospital. It’s an absolute hotspot for traffic and we don’t understand how the applicant will be able to fit three cars on that drive as stated in the plans.”
Other concerns received by planners included fears of increased noise, litter and safety risks to children crossing the road to get to two nearby schools.
Richard Lawrence, the council’s director of regeneration, had previously told members: “The application is for for a proposed two-storey side and single-storey rear extension and the applicant has reduced the size of the development and the number of occupiers from six to five.
“This proposal will result in a five-bedroomed property. The ground floor will have a kitchen, dining area, lounge and two bedrooms while the upstairs will have three bedrooms.
“The proposed multiple occupation house (HMO) would not be out of character in this case as it is situated in an area that already has various types of property including semi-detached, bungalows and homes ranging from early Victorian dwellings to homes built in the 1980s.
“The police and private sector housing have not raised any objections regarding the principle of the development,” he added.
Councillors refused the application on the grounds of parking and highways safety.
