Estate turning into a "student village", blasts Wainbody councillor

[dutchman]

A plan to turn a family home into a seven-bed property for students has been rejected



Plans to convert a family house into seven-bed home for students has been rejected after a furious councillor claimed it was turning a family estate into a “student village”.

Cllr Tim Sawdon said converting the three-bed home on 15 Cloud Green, in Wainbody, was “nonsense” and “totally excessive”, although council officers deemed it appropriate.

He said: “Frankly this is a ridiculous proposal, turning a beautiful estate designed to keep professional and young families within the city into more and more of a student village.

“Turning a three-bedroomed house into a seven-bedroomed house is totally excessive.

“People in Cannon Park Estate frankly feel ignored.

“They were told there would be more control over houses in multiple occupation.

“It is clearly not the case and they are pretty disillusioned.

“We are not anti-student in Cannon Park, we simply want to get the balance right and the balance is going more and more wrong.”

The applicant sought to increase the size via a two-storey side and single-storey rear extension, adding that it would be used by university students.

The University of Warwick is within walking distance.

Only two car parking spaces were provided, but planning officer Shamim Chowdhury said it was “sufficient” as there was on-street parking in the area.

He added: “Cannon Park does not need to be reliant on cars. It is a local centre with cycle routes and bus routes, so it is a highly sustainable location.”

The applicant had previously bid for an eight-bed HMO in June but had plans refused, however under current laws it could be passed as a six-bed HMO without consent.

But the current plan was branded as “overdevelopment” by the planning committee, with Cllr Catherine Miks stating she believed “the community is going to suffer from this”.

Cllr David Skinner added: “If this were allowed, it totally ignores the constantly expressed opinions of not only the residents association but other residents all around.”

[rebbonk]

One can only wonder what the planning officer was taking to think about recommending this in the first place.