An application was made by Simon Barrett in June for the retrospective change of use of 59 Crowlands Avenue from a single dwelling house to a HMO for six people.
The plans were refused yesterday (August 27) by Havering Council.
Neighbouring occupiers were invited to comment on the proposal and seven letters of objection were received which raised various concerns such as anti-social behaviour, noise and disturbance, high turnover of tenants, parking stress and the loss of a family home.
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Agent of this application DPA Ltd initially said in a planning document that the proposal provides “much needed affordance accommodation for local residents”.
It deemed the site “suitably located to meet the needs of residents”.
However, in the council’s reasoning for the refusal, it said the “high level of adult occupants and self-contained nature” would create an environment that is easily “distinguishable” from the use of a single dwelling house, although no external works were proposed.
It also said: “The proposals would be disproportionate in scale for a modestly sized single terraced dwelling and would undermine community cohesion and resilience as well as being at odds with surrounding character.”
On August 14, an HMO that was proposed in Mawney Road was refused planning permission as the council deemed the plans an “unacceptable loss of a much needed small family home within the borough”.
Havering Council felt the proposal for Crowlands Avenue would result in significantly higher levels of comings and goings and intensive activity of that of a single dwelling house resulting in a “detrimental impact” on adjoining residents.
The proposals also failed to demonstrate adequate levels of off-street parking, according to the decision reasons.
