HMO plans for former Hucknall care home get the green light
Plans to turn the former Hope Lea care home in Hucknall into a 12-person home in multiple occupation (HMO) have been approved by Ashfield Council’s planning committee.
The decision means the building, on Annesley Road, can be converted from its former care home use into shared accommodation for up to 12 people.
The plans include 12 bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms.
Most rooms will also have their own cooking facilities, alongside shared facilities elsewhere in the building.
The official committee report recorded three formal objections while much wider local concern appeared on various social media pages, including the Dispatch Facebook page.
Residents raised concerns about parking, bin storage, limited garden space, noise, disturbance, the risk of anti-social behaviour and the impact on people living nearby.
The committee report stated that around 50 square metres of garden space would remain at the site.
Objectors argued this was limited for 12 people once bins, access and everyday outdoor use were taken into account.
Coun Lee Waters (Ash Ind), who represents Hucknall Central, does not sit on the planning committee but called the application in so it could be debated in public and spoke against the plans at the meeting, citing lack of space, the excess cooking, waste, deliveries and movement 12, essentially separate bedsits would cause and the lack of space for parking.
Following the decision, Coun Waters said he was disappointed.
He said: “Without the call-in, this could have gone through without a public committee debate.
"I called it in because I wanted to try to prevent it and at the very least make sure residents’ concerns were put directly in front of the committee.
“My concern was simple.
"This was a lot to squeeze on to one site.
"We are talking about 12 people, no on-site parking, limited garden space, bins to store, and neighbours who will have to live with the day-to-day impact.
"I am properly annoyed about this.
"I respect the planning process, but I do not agree with the outcome.
“Planning is not just about ticking boxes.
"It should also be about common sense, neighbours, bins, parking pressure, noise, disturbance, the risk of anti-social behaviour and whether a site is being asked to take too much.
“Hucknall needs housing, but it also needs developments that fit the area.
"In my view, this was too much for this site and the wrong decision for this part of Annesley Road.
“Residents raised fair concerns, I put those concerns forward clearly, and I still believe this was the wrong decision.”