A COVENTRY campaign group which has been fighting to limit the number of homes in multiple occupation (HMO) for eight years have welcomed the latest development in plans to make this a reality.
Last week, the city council published a development plan document, setting out how HMO proposals would be assessed using a planning application process through a suite of new policies.
A consultation last September allowed Coventrians to have their say on what they thought about the proposals to introduce new policies to assess potential HMOs, with the council taking the comments on board when creating the revised document.
Some say the conversion of so many homes to HMOs had helped contribute to a shortage of suitable houses for families, making it harder for people to get on the property ladder and damaging communities.
Others, however, said they saw them as addressing a different and urgent housing need.
The development plan document is now at the ‘regulation 19’ stage, the formal phase before it is submitted to the Secretary of State.
The council legally must now allow people to make any further comments which will then be considered by a planning inspector.
People can make comments until just before midnight on May 15, after which the council intends to submit the document to the Government for independent examination.
People can view the document in person at all libraries in the city as well as the Council House.
Paul Maddocks from Coventry Action for Neighbourhoods, which was set up to limit HMOs, said proposals for a development plan should have been started eight years ago but said it was ‘better late than never’.
“We know some areas in the city have already been blighted by the overwhelming amount of HMOs in a very confined area taking out any community feel or involvement.
“We hope this new plan has teeth and turns down planning applications in areas that already have a high percentage of HMOs, but we have not been told what that percentage will be.”
Visit coventrycitycouncil.inconsult.uk/HMORegulation19/consultationHome to make any comments.
