Massive family home in exclusive Coventry street to become flats

[dutchman]

A petition of 57 signatures and eight letters of objection opposed the plan for the large home near University of Warwick



An 'aspirational' family home in a exclusive street in Coventry is to be turned into flats, despite warnings that it is setting “a dangerous precedent”.

Planning permission has been granted for two first-floor extensions to the rear of 8 Stoneleigh Road, Gibbet Hill, as developers convert the impressive family home into six two-bed flats.

The plans in Wainbody ward led to a petition of 57 signatures objecting to the proposed change of use, while a further eight letters of objection were also received.

At a planning meeting, two residents and ward councillor John Blundell stated that the plans resulted to “over-intensification” in a conservation area.

Cllr Blundell claimed the proposals did not encourage the use of family homes, arguing approval of the application would “set a dangerous precedent”.

At the meeting last week, committee members said they had sympathy about the loss of a family home, but had no valid planning grounds for refusal.

“We are very sympathetic about family homes as it is needed in this city but unfortunately we cannot see any reason to refuse this,” said Cllr Catherine Miks.

“We are sympathetic about the need for aspirational housing and we hope developers do go along with that in the future.”

An agent for the applicant said the scheme meets local and national guidelines, is well-screened from the road, while the overall aesthetic of the site “changes very little”.

The application also includes 13 car parking spaces to the front garden – two for each flat with one visitor space – leading to no objections from highways.

Suggestions were made that the property could be used by students as it is within walking distance to the University of Warwick.

But planning officer Emma Spandley said: “This application is not for a HMO (house in multiple occupation).

“It is for two-bed flats and normally we would see one-bed flats if it is for students.”

Plans were approved four in favour and one against.

[rebbonk]

I think we can expect to see more of this type of thing. Property owners are going to maximise their monetary gains.

But, worshipping the little God of money will eventually come back to haunt our society.

[dutchman]

The neighbours will all follow suit now and there's nothing the council can do to stop them.

[rebbonk]

The precedent is set!

The same thing happened near me. A lack of control of the type of development, now anything goes. - Hence there is a row of completely mismatched houses.

[dutchman]

Family home to be turned into seven-bed student pad



A family home on a quiet estate is to be turned into a seven-bed pad for students.

The property - 10 Brill Close, in Wainbody - will be converted into a house in multiple occupation (HMO) and will be used to house Warwick university students.

The move sparked concern over the loss of homes for families at a time of increasing housing need both in Coventry and nationally.

Agent Simon Grove, on behalf of the applicant, told a planning committee on Thursday, January 23, that the owners were struggling to sell it.

He said: “This is a large family home and this one had circa six people in the family. They are looking at options to sell it and the only people interested in the sale were people for a HMO relative to Warwick University.”

But a critical Cllr Tim Sawdon, arguing against the plans, referenced an “almost identical” application in the area which was rejected in November, adding it would be “totally perverse” to agree to this one now.

At the last application, he claimed the estate was "being turned into a student village".

The council’s own policies state a seven-bed HMO would require six parking spaces, but only three were provided in this application.

“If that’s the rule, you must stick to it,” Cllr Sawdon argued.

“If you are going to start saying ‘oh what’s one more going to be’, it really does fly in the face of the policies being set.

“It is over-development of the site. Brill Close is a narrow road and has a hammerhead junction just around the corner.”

Plans were approved six in favour and two against, despite Cllr Catherine Miks one of a number to raise concerns over the loss of family homes.

She said: “We all welcome the university but these are large houses where developers are basically going in and keeping profits.

“I hope we are looking into the fact we are losing large family homes we need in this city.”

Council planning policy manager Mark Andrews admitted it “is an issue we are conscious of”, adding the authority is looking into a study on the impact of HMOs across the city.