New HMO consultation

In 2013 Liberal Democrats introduced controls on the number of HMOs across the City. The Council is currently reviewing the Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). An existing “Article 4 Direction” (a term in planning law) withdraws the Permitted Development Right for the change of use from family homes (Use Class C3) to Houses in Multiple Occupation (Use Classes C4 and Sui Generis) across the City of Bath. The SPD sets out criteria for assessing planning applications required by the Article 4 Direction. The aim of the SPD is to avoid high concentrations of HMOs in the interests of an appropriately balanced housing mix across the city.

The revised SPD can be accessed from the Council’s Website http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/hmo.

The Council are particularly interested in hearing your views on the following questions:

  • Do you agree with the general approach of the SPD to manage the concentration of HMOs in parts in Bath?
  • Do you agree with the Sandwich Policy proposed in the draft SPD?
  • Do you agree with lowering the HMO threshold to 10% from 25%?

You can send your comments via the Council’s Consultation Website here.  Alternatively you can email them to HMO_SPD@BathNES.gov.uk or post them to Planning Policy, Bath and North East Somerset Council, Lewis House, Manvers Street, Bath BA1 1JG.

Comments should be submitted by 5pm 13th October 2017 after which the consultation closes.

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