Retrospective plans for 8-bedroom HMO in Eastbourne refused by council

Planning officers have refused plans for the conversion of the property at 7 Cavendish Avenue in the town on the grounds that future occupiers of the property would have a ‘substandard quality of accommodation.’

The officers report stated: “The proposed rooms 7 and 8 are considered to be self-contained dwellings and by reason of their Gross Internal Area, would fail to meet the minimum internal space standard of at least 37 square metres for a one-bed one-person dwelling defined by the ‘Technical housing standards – nationally described space standards’, and thus would result in substandard quality of accommodation for future occupants.

"The proposal due to rooms 2 and 4 would have limited outlook and inadequate access to natural light given the positioning of their windows in relationship with the application property and close proximity to the adjoining property number 9 Cavendish Avenue to the north.

"The lack of adequate natural daylight and poor level of outlook would create an insular and oppressive space which could have a detrimental impact to any long-term users of those rooms and would thus result in an inadequate living environment for future occupants."

The proposed layout of the house would consist of four en-suite bedrooms alongside a kitchen and dining area on the ground floor with four en-suite bedrooms on the first floor.

The planning officer’s report added that this layout, particularly of rooms 7 and 8 would be considered ‘substandard’.

The report added: “Rooms 7 and 8 are self-contained with private kitchen and washing facilities like the rest of the rooms but these two rooms have their own separate external access from the side access path leading from the front to the back garden.

"This presents two separate flats measuring between 12 square metres and 13.5 square metres in internal floor area compared to the required minimum internal floorspace of 37 square metres as defined in the Technical housing standards.

"The proposed type and level of accommodation provided for rooms 7 and 8 is considered substandard.”