Agenda item

Gillingham South Ward

Change of use from dwelling house (Class C3) to a 8 bedroom house of multiple occupation (Class C4) with loft conversion, single storey rear extension.

Discussion:

The Senior Planner outlined the application in detail for the change of use from a dwelling house (Class C3) to a 8-bedroom house of multiple occupation (Class C4) with loft conversion, single storey rear extension.

The Senior Planner brought Members’ attention to the supplementary agenda advice sheet which illustrated, within a 500-metre radius of the application, the number of residential households (2,266) and the number of houses in multiple occupancy (HMOs) (62) which equated to approximately 2.7% of the housing stock. 

With the agreement of the Committee, Councillor Louwella Prenter addressed the Committee as Ward Councillor raised the following concerns:

• Petition submitted signed by 55 residents which showed the level of objection to this application.
• Excess refuse, noise, ASB, increased movement due to additional residents in HMOs.
• Needed a proper Waste Management Plan.  Refuse bags being blown around would create a negative impact on the street which would then require those refuse bags to be cleaned up.  
• There were (potentially) hidden HMOs in that road along with temporary accommodation, a care home and supported living.  This all added to the number of residents living in this road.
• Street congested and parking was already at a premium.  

The Committee discussed the planning application noting the points raised by the Ward Councillor. 

The Service Manager - Development Management clarified that it had been agreed at a previous Planning Committee that officers would produce a map of all the HMOs within a 500-metre radius.  This was alongside the report that went to Cabinet regarding Article 4 Directions.  Officers used data from Council Tax, HMO licensing records, planning and enforcement records into a predictive modelling software. The Article 4 Direction, which had been approved at Cabinet on 16 December 2025, would give the Local Planning Authority increased decision making powers regarding properties that wished to be converted to HMOs.  

The Senior Planner confirmed that all rooms were either street or rear fronted and only one room was located in the loft area.  He advised that the lightwell window opened.

The Senior Planner confirmed that this property was located within a parking management zone and within the Parking Management Plan restrictions on the number of additional parking permits being issued could be controlled.   Although there were garages on site, they were not sufficient in size to be utilised as parking spaces and were not incorporated within the report as the amount of parking spaces available.

Members were concerned with additional noise and disturbance and acknowledged that Kingswood Road had other properties such as flat conversions and a care home.

The Senior Planner confirmed that a condition would cover bin storage.

On being put to the vote, the proposal to approve the recommendations set out in the report (approval with conditions), was lost.

Members discussed the reasons for refusal, in detail, which included the over concentration that would impact amenity and further loss of family homes and asked officers to investigate how many family homes there were in the street and what the percentage was and whether that had been reached.

Decision:     

REFUSED on the grounds of an over concentration that would impact amenity and further loss of family homes and asked officers to investigate how many family homes there were in the street, what the percentage was and whether concentration levels had been reached.

Final wording to be agreed by the Chief Planning Officer, in consultation with the Service Manager - Development Management with the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and Opposition Spokespersons. 

Note: Please note that the meeting was adjourned during this agenda item owing to a medical incident.