New rules for small Houses in Multiple Occupation and Planning Policy newsletter
New rules for Houses in Multiple Occupation came into force on 02 July, 2012.
A Direction has come into force that means that planning permission is required to change the use of a single family house into a shared house - House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) occupied by between three and six unrelated individuals. Planning permission is already required to change from a single family dwelling to a larger HMO.
What properties are covered?
The Direction covers the whole borough, but does not included uses such as children's homes, or care homes.
The change of use to an HMO occupied by more than 6 unrelated individuals has always needed planning permission, the Direction extends this to include smaller properties.
Why is this being done?
The Council recognises that well managed HMOs can play a useful role in the range of housing available in the Borough to meet local needs. The purpose of the Direction is not to stop their provision altogether but to ensure that, through the need to obtain planning permission in individual cases, undesirable concentrations of HMOs do not occur anywhere in the Borough in future. Suitable planning policies to prevent such concentrations are being developed through the Council's Local Development Framework plan making process.
The Legal Background
At the Cabinet meeting in May 2011, a Direction was made under Article 4(i) of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Amendment) (England) Order 2010 removing permitted development rights otherwise granted by the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Amendment) (No 2) (England) Order 2010 to change the use of a Class C3 dwelling house to a Class C4 HMO).
Public consultation on the Direction took place in July/August 2011.
7 representations were received - 4 in favour and 3 against.
At the Cabinet meeting on 31 October, 2011 the representations received were considered and it was decided to confirm the Direction. It came into force on 02 July 2012.
Planning Policy Newsletter
The Planning Policy team has recently published their latest newsletter, providing an update on progress in preparing the Hastings Local Plan and giving details about current and upcoming consultations - please take a look so you don't miss out on your opportunity to get involved.
Specifically, the newsletter provides information on:
- Current consultation on the Hastings Planning Strategy - the plan that sets the long term vision and overall strategy for development across the town up to 2028. Consultation on the final version of the Plan will continue to run until 17 August. Visit our current consultation page for all the details.
- Upcoming consultation on the Development Management Plan - from 06 July to 17 August. Following our recent consultation on the draft document, further sites have been suggested to us, as well as additional policy issues, that we now need to consult on. We have therefore prepared a 'focused' consultation document on the Development Management Plan, which we encourage you to comment on. Visit our current consultation page for all the details.
- Neighbourhood Planning - we have developed an information source to help communities who are considering developing a Neighbourhood Plan.
If you would like to be added to our Planning Policy database to receive a copy of the newsletter direct to your home, or by email, please contact the Planning Policy team on 01424 451098 or email fplanning@hastings.gov.uk
Site Notices Now with QR Codes
You might have noticed that we have started including QR codes on our site notices advertising planning applications. This means that if you have got a smart phone or tablet you can scan the code and be taken directly to the case documents online. A smart phone might not be the best way to view application documents, but it will give you an idea of whether you want to look into it in more depth later on a larger screen
