Application to convert Parklands Care Home to 57-bed house rejected

Parklands House

An application to convert Parklands Care Home on Falinge Road to a 57-bed house of multiple occupancy (HMO) was rejected at the planning and licensing committee on 28 March.

The application was refused by the Local Planning Authority on three grounds:

The proposed use of the property as a 57-bed HMO would comprise overdevelopment of the site and would be out of keeping with the character of the surrounding residential area, contributing towards an erosion of the balance of the local community.

The development would be harmful to the residential amenities of nearby property occupiers by way of noise and disturbance, due to the number and frequency of movements to, from and within the site – further exacerbated by the layout of the site and the proximity of the primary car park adjacent to residential properties on Chaseley Road.

The scheme failed to demonstrate sufficient provision of outdoor amenity space to meet the needs of future occupiers of the development.

The Inspector observed there would be a ‘qualitative change in the level of activity within the site’ and the proposal would result in a ‘noticeable change’ in the number of comings and goings both on foot and by car.

The Inspector and the Local Planning Authority concurred the proposal would have a detrimental impact on the living conditions of the occupiers of adjacent properties and noted particular concern in relation to the increased noise and disturbance from the car park in relation to properties on Chaseley Road.

In addressing the impact on the character of the area, the Inspector opined that the adverse impacts identified above would be localised and therefore did not consider that the character of the wider area would be materially changed in this regard.

They also did not consider that one additional HMO would alter the prevailing residential character or the balance of the local community.