Bid to turn Lowestoft home into HMO for asylum seekers fails

Change of use plans that could have seen a mid terrace property in Kirkley, south Lowestoft, converted into a six-bedroom House of Multiple Occupancy (HMO), have been turned down once more after numerous objections.

Change of use plans have been refused once more for the property at 47 London Road South, Kirkley in Lowestoft. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

Earlier this year a scheme to use the property at 47 London Road South as a nine-bedroom HMO with "accommodation for asylum seekers" was denied.

East Suffolk Council ruled the application was "contrary to relevant policies."

It led to plans being lodged to convert the seven-bed property into an eight-bedroom HMO, but this was refused on flood risk grounds.

The existing elevations of 47 London Road South, Kirkley in Lowestoft. Picture: Principle Design (Image: Principle Design) Fresh change of use plans were lodged with East Suffolk in September - this time by agents Town Planning Expert, opposed to Principle Design, who'd submitted the previous two schemes, on behalf of the applicant Patrice Elonge for Poseday Property Solutions Ltd.

This third bid again proposed to use the property at 47 London Road South as "essential housing to asylum seekers in partnership with SERCO Ltd", but this time in a six-bedroom HMO.

The proposed elevations of 47 London Road South, Kirkley in Lowestoft. Picture: Principle Design (Image: Principle Design) But the council rejected the proposals as the scheme submitted by agents Principle Design - on behalf of applicant Patrice Elonge for Poseday Properties - was refused again under delegated powers.

Lowestoft Town Council recommended the plans for refusal as they said "there had been no material change in the application" and their concerns - including the poor quality of accommodation and the flood risk - had not been addressed. 

A total of 23 locals and businesses also objected - citing issues of an increased fear of crime, parking problems, safeguarding concerns and fly-tipping.

The applicants said: "The owner of the property, working with SERCO, seeks to use this property to house up to six asylum seekers within an HMO use.

"The removal of sleeping accommodation on the ground floor addresses the previous reason for refusal in full as safe refuge can now be provided within the upper floor rooms."

'Proposal still represents a risk to vulnerable occupants'

However plans were "refused" last Wednesday by the council.

Change of use plans have been refused once more for the property at 47 London Road South, Kirkley in Lowestoft. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

With the property currently vacant, the report said the three storey, seven bedroom Victorian terraced house would be operated and managed by SERCO.

A delegated report from the council's case officer said: "The applicant has reduced the number of letting bedrooms to six and removed the ground floor
letting bedrooms entirely, owing to objections on flood risk grounds.

"The use represents an exceptional case, in that it would provide dedicated accommodation for a specific group of vulnerable tenants, in this case, asylum seekers, managed by a Government Agency."

But, in refusing the proposals they concluded it was contrary to policies once more.

Change of use plans have been lodged once more for the property at 47 London Road South, Kirkley in Lowestoft. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

It added: "Although the development is designed to provide refuge above the predicted flood levels, this is a fall-back mitigation measure.

"It cannot be concluded therefore, that the flooding risks associated with the proposed development have been addressed in full, and therefore, this proposal still represents a risk to vulnerable occupants of the proposed development.

"It is also relevant that the exceptional circumstance put forward by the applicant in this case, in order to justify the principle of development in policy terms, is that this accommodation would be for vulnerable asylum seekers urgently requiring temporary accommodation.

"To create accommodation in a vulnerable flood risk area where this matter has not been adequately addressed by the applicant would be a unsatisfactory outcome and further weighs against the proposal.

"Officers therefore consider that the benefits of this type of accommodation in this location, do not outweigh the flood risk, and the application is therefore recommended for refusal."