The refusal of a proposed house in multiple occupation (HMO) in Scunthorpe by local councillors has won support at an appeal. Last year, North Lincolnshire Council’s planning committee rejected a proposed HMO in Jackson Road, Scunthorpe, a property formerly divided between a flat and a grocery store. The committee dismissed both a 10-bed HMO application and a later revised eight-bed HMO bid. The applicant subsequently took the case to appeal. Inspector Peter Eggleton sided with the councillors on the grounds of inadequate living conditions, despite not agreeing with the other two reasons for denial. Mr Eggleton raised concerns over the ‘extremely small’ window size in one bedroom and plans for two large waste bins to be placed right outside it. He also criticised the proposal for a flat roof for a rear extension, labelling it as ‘poor design’. Mr Eggleton concluded that the internal and external arrangements planned would lead to ‘poor living conditions for future residents’. Although he accepted that these concerns could be addressed by improved design and layout, he was not convinced that the benefits of the proposal outweighed his reservations.
This story was adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reporting by www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk.
