Bridgend Council’s planning committee has approved another House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) near Bridgend town centre (pdf).
The application will see a six-bedroom HMO provided at a house located to the rear of the Greyfriars Court assisted living complex off Coity Road (the entrance to which is pictured above).
There were formal objections from local residents, Bridgend Town Council and Cllr. Steven Bletsoe (Ind, Bridgend Central).
The concerns are similar to those raised concerning several HMO applications in recent months. These include concerns about an over-concentration of HMOs in the given area, the potential for anti-social behaviour and the loss of a family home.
Coity Road also houses several temporary housing projects (which are, technically, not HMOs) run by The Wallich charity for people experiencing homelessness or going through drug rehabilitation. These include Cornerstone House, Vesta Court and Ty Ogwr.
Councillors were told that the application was in a sustainable location and the house was suitable for six people.
Trying to allay some of the objections, the applicant – who currently lives in the property and would run it as a private landlord (alongside several other HMOs he owns/operates in the area) – said he “would not accept applications from drug-dependant people” and “wasn’t equipped to do so”.
The application was approved unanimously subject to conditions. These include providing a minimum of 3 parking spaces, as well as bike and recycling/rubbish storage facilities.
