Latest news with #HighwaysAuthority
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
House to be transformed into HMO despite objections from neighbours
A house in St Edward Street, Newport, is set to become an HMO following approval. The property, located at 26 St Edward Street in Stow Hill, will be transformed from a regular dwelling to a four-bedroom house in multiple occupation (HMO), despite objections from neighbours. The planning application, 25/0403, was submitted by an applicant named Williams. The change of use will see the ground floor of the property host a lounge, kitchen, and one bedroom, while the first floor will contain three bedrooms and a bathroom. A planning report also detailed that bin and bike storage will be located in the rear amenity space, and a bird box will be installed on the rear boundary as a biodiversity enhancement. The parking situation was a point of contention for locals, with a survey indicating an increased demand for two spaces. However, this was deemed acceptable due to the location's sustainability and access to transport. The Highways Authority raised no formal objection but did require conditions for secure cycle storage. One 120-litre bin will be required for waste management. A waste management plan has been put in place and will remain consistent with the property's previous use. In terms of space standards, all rooms have been confirmed to meet the required size standards, with windows providing adequate light and outlook. The property also offers adequate outdoor amenity space. A check on the saturation of HMOs in the area found that within a 50-metre radius of the site, which includes 46 properties, no other HMOs are registered. This proposal would therefore only represent 2.17 per cent, well below the 15 per cent threshold. The proposal complies with a range of policies, including Policy H8 (Houses in Multiple Occupation), GP2 (Amenity), GP4 (Highways), GP5 (Natural Environment), and other relevant local and national planning policies. Biodiversity was taken into account, with the proposal for a bird box on the rear boundary fence. A full Green Infrastructure Statement was not required due to the scale of the development. Sixteen neighbours objected to the proposal, raising concerns about increased parking leading to congestion, making the area less desirable due to the transient nature of tenants, noise generation, loss of community character and cohesion, more pressure on waste disposal, decline in property values, and the inadequacy of the parking survey for assessing parking needs. They also noted a lack of consideration for electric vehicle charging or visitor/carer parking and raised concerns over room sizes and overcrowding. These objections were all addressed and dismissed through assessments by planning officers, highway officers, and other consultees, concluding the development meets the required planning standards and policy thresholds.
South Wales Argus
5 days ago
- General
- South Wales Argus
Newport house to become HMO despite objections from locals
The property, located at 26 St Edward Street in Stow Hill, will be transformed from a regular dwelling to a four-bedroom house in multiple occupation (HMO), despite objections from neighbours. The planning application, 25/0403, was submitted by an applicant named Williams. The change of use will see the ground floor of the property host a lounge, kitchen, and one bedroom, while the first floor will contain three bedrooms and a bathroom. A planning report also detailed that bin and bike storage will be located in the rear amenity space, and a bird box will be installed on the rear boundary as a biodiversity enhancement. The parking situation was a point of contention for locals, with a survey indicating an increased demand for two spaces. However, this was deemed acceptable due to the location's sustainability and access to transport. The Highways Authority raised no formal objection but did require conditions for secure cycle storage. One 120-litre bin will be required for waste management. A waste management plan has been put in place and will remain consistent with the property's previous use. In terms of space standards, all rooms have been confirmed to meet the required size standards, with windows providing adequate light and outlook. The property also offers adequate outdoor amenity space. A check on the saturation of HMOs in the area found that within a 50-metre radius of the site, which includes 46 properties, no other HMOs are registered. This proposal would therefore only represent 2.17 per cent, well below the 15 per cent threshold. The proposal complies with a range of policies, including Policy H8 (Houses in Multiple Occupation), GP2 (Amenity), GP4 (Highways), GP5 (Natural Environment), and other relevant local and national planning policies. Biodiversity was taken into account, with the proposal for a bird box on the rear boundary fence. A full Green Infrastructure Statement was not required due to the scale of the development. Sixteen neighbours objected to the proposal, raising concerns about increased parking leading to congestion, making the area less desirable due to the transient nature of tenants, noise generation, loss of community character and cohesion, more pressure on waste disposal, decline in property values, and the inadequacy of the parking survey for assessing parking needs. They also noted a lack of consideration for electric vehicle charging or visitor/carer parking and raised concerns over room sizes and overcrowding. These objections were all addressed and dismissed through assessments by planning officers, highway officers, and other consultees, concluding the development meets the required planning standards and policy thresholds.
South Wales Argus
10-07-2025
- General
- South Wales Argus
St Paul's Church, Newport, to be converted into nine flats
St Paul's Church in Commercial Street, Newport, will house six two-bedroom and three three-bedroom units across three floors. The full planning application for the conversion was submitted by A. Brown, and was approved on July 3, 2025, with conditions. A separate listed building consent application is still pending. The church, known for its late Georgian architecture, sits adjacent to Newport city centre. Although not within a designated flood zone, its location near the St Woolos Conservation Area has drawn interest. The conversion will involve significant internal changes, including the installation of new partitions and staircases, as well as roof lights for the attic flat. A notable alteration will be the replacement of stained glass windows with clear glazing. The original stained glass will be repurposed within the building. Externally, the building will be refurbished, and additional space will be allocated for bike and bin storage. Previous planning applications for the site include a listed building consent for 20 flats, which was refused, and an external lighting application, which was granted. The new development has received support from several quarters. The Highways Authority, Environmental Health, and the Principal Heritage Officer have all expressed no objection, provided certain conditions are met. The Senior Scientific Officer recommended car-free or ultra-low emission vehicle restrictions due to the site's proximity to an air quality management area. The ecologist and Natural Resources Wales accepted a bat survey and noted the need for ecological enhancement measures. The tree and landscape officers required tree protection and the use of suitable seed mix for urban meadow areas. Heneb, the Gwent-Glamorgan Archaeological Trust, recommended Level 3 historic building recording as a condition. Welsh Water confirmed foul drainage capacity and stipulated that no surface water should be drained to the sewer. No public objections or representations were received. The scheme aligns with policies promoting the sustainable reuse of vacant land and buildings. Despite being a former community facility, the building's long-term vacancy and poor condition justified its reuse. All units meet internal space standards. Flat 9 in the attic has limited outlook but acceptable light and ventilation. The lack of private outdoor space is mitigated by proximity to city centre facilities. Contributions for affordable housing, education, and leisure, which totalled more than £115,000, were waived following an open book assessment confirming the scheme's unviability. Conditions attached to the approval include requirements for detailed construction management, sound insulation, biodiversity enhancements, waste strategy, archaeological recording, landscaping management, and protection of historic and landscape features.
South Wales Argus
06-05-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Conversion of Newport house into larger HMO approved
The property, located in Mellon Street, Newport, will be converted from a four-bedroom house in multiple occupation (HMO) to a five-bedroom property. The application has been granted with conditions. This approval also marks the first formal planning permission for the property's HMO status, even though it has held HMO licenses since 2011. The conversion will include five bedrooms, two of which will have en-suites, a communal living area, WC, kitchen, and bathroom. The property is located within the Lower Dock Street Conservation Area and has an Article 4 Direction, which removes certain permitted development rights to protect the character of the area. Part of the conversion plan includes the installation of three cycle racks and refuse storage at the rear of the property. A review of the neighbourhood found that the proposed increase in HMO capacity complies with Policy H8, which imposes a maximum threshold of 15 per cent within a 50m radius. The current HMO density in the area is 10.34 per cent. The proposed changes also meet the requirements of the Historic Environment Act, as no external alterations are planned. The internal space standards are also met, with all bedrooms exceeding the minimum size requirements. The application was reviewed and accepted by various bodies. Welsh Water confirmed capacity exists, while the Highways Authority, despite concerns about refuse and cycle parking, accepted the proposal due to its sustainable location. The Principal Heritage Officer had no objections, and the police noted the area has a low crime and vulnerability rate. Waste Management requires the provision of proper bin sizes and placement as per council specification. The application attracted no objections or comments from the 93 neighbours consulted or from local councillors. Conditions attached to the approval include the submission and implementation of secure cycle parking details, the installation of a bird box for biodiversity enhancement, and the occupancy limited to five residents.
