HMO refused over affordable housing concerns
GooglePlans to create an eight-bedroom house of multiple occupancy (HMO) have been thrown out due to concerns over a lack of affordable housing.
School St Property Ltd wanted to turn a four-bedroom, three-storey mid terrace on School Street, Barrow, into a seven-bedroom HMO for nine people.
It said the house, near a shop and in a street of similar properties, would have been made into five single rooms and two couple rooms.
One resident said "we need more affordable housing instead of HMOs" while another expressed concerns about its impact on the character of the area.
Barrow Town Council told Westmorland and Furness Council plans could not go ahead due to the density of HMOs already in the area, water issues on the egress holes, window placement and the size of the upper floor room.
Another neighbour objecte because of increased parking, highway safety issues and noise, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
However, the applicant said the proposal respected the "residential character of the area" and made efficient use of space, while "aligning with national and local policy aims for housing diversity and sustainable development".
Westmorland and Furness Council said the plan failed because the internal design was not "acceptable".
"There are two rooms shown at basement level, neither of which will have sufficient access to natural light, ventilation or outlook, creating a gloomy living environment," an officer report added.
It also said the proposed layout would make tenants "heavily reliant" on artificial light which would not provide "high quality living accommodation".