Site address:                    75 Langley Close, Oxford, OX3 7DB    

Proposal:                          Change of use from dwellinghouse (Use Class C3) to a house in multiple occupation (Use Class C4). Provision of bin and bike stores.         

Reason at Committee:      The applicant (Mr A Rehman) is an elected Councillor for the Lye Valley Ward.

Recommendation:

The Oxford City Planning Committee is recommended to:

1.     approve the application for the reasons given in the report and subject to the required planning conditions set out in section 12 of the report and grant planning permission

2.     agree to delegate authority to the Head of Planning Services to:

·       finalise the recommended conditions as set out in the report including such refinements, amendments, additions and/or deletions as the Head of Planning Services considers reasonably necessary

The Committee considered an application (21/01989/FUL) for planning permission for a change of use from dwellinghouse (Use Class C3) to a house in multiple occupation (Use Class C4) and the provision of bin and bike stores.

The application was before the Committee as the applicant, Mr A Rehman, is an elected councillor for the Lye Valley Ward.

The Planning Officer presented the report and informed the Committee that since the publication of the agenda one further objection had been received from a member of the public. The number of representations listed at paragraph 9.5 of the report should be changed from 10 to 11. Planning Officers had considered the issues detailed in the additional objection and were satisfied that no new matters had been raised and that all of the issues were addressed in the officer report.

The Committee discussion covered the following points:

·       Cycle storage – reservations were expressed about the level of security and the practicality and convenience of the proposed design for the storage of 4 or more bikes.  The Committee agreed that Condition 4 should be revised to require the submission and approval in writing of detailed plans for the cycle store prior to occupation.

·       Doubts that the provision of facilities (e.g. toilets and bins) were sufficient given the potential number of occupants.   The Committee was advised that the proposed plans complied with the City Council’s HMO Landlord guidance and were reminded that ultimately these were matters that would be addressed by the HMO Licensing team when inspecting the property prior to issuing any licence.

·       Concerns were raised over the possibility of visitors to the HMO being allowed parking permits. Officers advised the Committee that Condition 3 excluded the site from eligibility for both resident and visitor parking permits.

·       The calculation used to determine whether the proportion of buildings used as a HMO within 100 metres of street length either side of the application site was queried. Officers advised that the calculation followed the methodology set out within the Local Plan under Policy H6 and Appendix 3.7.

• Although there was already a garage and hard standing at the site, these did not meet minimum space dimensions for a parking space and consequently the site was considered to be “car free”. Officers, in response to a suggestion that the existing sub-standard parking provision should be prevented from being used, were advised that it may not be considered reasonable to impose conditions to secure this in these circumstances.   

In reaching its decision, the Committee considered all the information put before it.

After debate and on being proposed, seconded and put to the vote, the Committee agreed with the officer’s recommendation to approve the application with an amendment to Condition 4 as detailed above.

The Oxford City Planning Committee resolved to:

1.     approve the application for the reasons given in the report and subject to the required planning conditions set out in section 12 of the report and with an amendment to Condition 4 (to require the submission and approval by the Council of detailed designs for the cycle store prior to occupation) and grant planning permission

2.     delegate authority to the Head of Planning Services to:

·       finalise the recommended conditions as set out in the report including such refinements, amendments, additions and/or deletions as the Head of Planning Services considers reasonably necessary.