Issue - meetings

The purpose of the report is to seek Cabinet approval for consultation on a draft Houses in Multiple Occupation Supplementary Planning Document.

Cabinet RESOLVED:

(1)    To approve the Draft Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) as set out in Appendix A of the report, to be issued for consultation.

(2)    To delegate authority to the Strategic Director for Regeneration and Environment in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Planning to consider consultation responses, along with any necessary changes, and the decision on whether to adopt the HMO SPD.

Councillor Tatler (Cabinet Member for Regeneration & Planning) introduced a report seeking approval to undertake consultation on a draft Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). 

In introducing the report, members noted confirmation of the Article 4 Direction which had removed permitted development rights for small HMOs and the incorporation within the recently adopted Local Plan of Planning Policy BH7 which set out the criteria needing to be met for HMO development to be deemed acceptable.  Whilst recognising the role of HMOs in addressing housing need the criteria included factors such as location, quality and standard of accommodation (including external amenity space, communal facilities, support and care), management arrangements, impact on neighbouring amenity, level of need and seeking to avoid an over-concentration in specific areas.  The SPD had been designed to assist applicants, local communities and officers in clarifying implementation of the criteria, assessing applications and detailing the expectations in relation to other London Plan and Local Plan policies relating to HMOs.

Member also noted and welcomed the way in which the SPD would be expected to clarify and complement the relationship between the planning, housing and licensing regimes in relation to the consent and management of HMOs.

Having recognised the benefits of the approach identified in relation to strengthening standards of accommodation, the protection and additional security available for occupants and in reducing any potential adverse impacts on local neighbourhood areas whilst also addressing and managing housing need, Cabinet RESOLVED:

(1)     To approve the Draft Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) as set out in Appendix A of the report, to be issued for consultation.

(2)     To delegate authority to the Strategic Director for Regeneration and Environment in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Planning to consider consultation responses, along with any necessary changes, and the decision on whether to adopt the HMO SPD.