Opposition has been voiced on a proposal to turn historic buildings in Long Sutton town centre into House of Multiple Occupations (HMO) housing up to 31 people.
Plans are being considered to turn the Grade II listed former Barclays Bank and Brenchley House in West Street into two homes for people who aren’t related to each other, as well as creating a bedsit.
Developer IMN properties say ‘there is no appetite for the continued use of part of the site for employment purposes’ and that the changes are internal, ‘kept to a minimum’ and ‘would assist in the conservation of the listed buildings’.
Its plans include nine two-person rooms, a one-bedroom room and bedsit for 39 West Street and three two-person rooms and five one-person rooms in number 43.
Despite the proposal being that 31 people live in the properties, the plans only includes four vehicle parking spaces. It would have storage for 34 cycles.
“Although this provision may fall below the typical standards applied to other forms of residential development, it is considered appropriate given the highly sustainable nature of the location,” the planning documents claim.
Long Sutton Parish Council has objected to the proposals on a host of grounds including claiming the number of people living there would have an impact on the town’s conservation area, nearby church and war memorial.
Last week it held a public meeting on the proposals which saw 64 residents attend.
