Despite local objections, two new Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) sites have been approved in Bridgend. The Bridgend council’s planning committee has granted permission for two former residential properties near the town centre to be converted into HMOs. The applications, submitted for changes of use from residential properties to HMOs, were for houses on St Marie Street and Acland Road.
One of the properties, a three-bedroom house on St Marie Street, was approved to be converted into a four-person HMO by developers D2 Propco Limited. While external alterations will not be made to the mid-terrace property, internal modifications will accommodate the change of use, including converting one reception room into a fourth bedroom. The property will feature shared facilities such as a kitchen, lounge/diner, and communal bathroom on the ground level.
Concerns were raised by councillors and nearby residents regarding the potential over-intensity of HMO sites, parking issues, and proximity to a nearby school. However, planning officers deemed the plans compliant with policy and not harmful, leading to a vote in favour of the recommendation by a majority of eight for, four against, and one abstention.
A second application for a property on Acland Road, about 400m from the town centre, was also approved to be converted into a four-bedroom HMO. Developer Tenbee Properties proposed the conversion, which includes three upstairs bedrooms and one communal bathroom, with a ground-floor lounge being repurposed as a fourth bedroom. Despite objections from neighbors citing parking problems, an over-concentration of HMO sites, and potential loss of family housing, the planning committee unanimously voted in favor of the plans.
The approved HMO sites could potentially provide housing for groups of doctors or nurses affiliated with the Princess of Wales Hospital. The committee’s decision reflects the ongoing changes in housing and accommodation requirements in Bridgend. Residents can stay updated on the latest news in Bridgend by subscribing to newsletters from Wales Online.