Warrington moves to prevent HMO ‘free-for-all’
The council is planning to remove permitted development rights for the conversion of family homes into shared houses across the entirety of the borough.
Warrington Council has announced it intends to beef up an Article 4 direction, which removes developers and landlords’ ability to bypass the planning system, that currently covers six wards in the centre of the borough.
Last autumn, controls were put in place to control HMO development in Orford, Poplars and Hulme, Fairfield and Howley, Latchford East, Latchford West, and Bewsey and Whitecross.
These areas were initially identified because evidence shows they have the highest prevalence of HMOs, the council said.
However, the authority is now going further and intends to expand the Article 4 across the rest of the borough, a move it said will “allow the council to properly assess each proposal and prevent over-concentration”. The new rules will come into force in September.
In recent months, councils across the country have moved en masse to regain control of HMO development in their areas. This type of housing provides an important affordable option for lower income earners but is viewed by many as a contributor to social problems.
Cllr John Kerr-Brown, cabinet member for planning policy and development, said: “Residents have been clear. In some areas, there are simply too many HMOs concentrated in the same streets, and it’s having a real impact on parking, noise, and the character of our neighbourhoods.
“We’ve listened, and we’re stepping in. These changes give us the legal powers to control new HMO conversions, prevent over-concentration, and make sure new housing works for the people already living there.”
An Article 4 does not amount to an outright ban on HMO development. Rather it introduces another check and balance to ensure that a given scheme is appropriate in a certain location.
“Well-managed HMOs still have a role to play in our housing mix, but they must be safe, in the right places and at the right scale,” Cllr Kerr-Brown said.
“We won’t accept a free-for-all where communities are left to deal with the consequences.
“This is about restoring that balance, putting residents’ concerns at the centre of our decisions, and taking control of how our neighbourhoods change.”
No Local Elections in Warrington this year, but a blanket Article 4 Direction just kicks the unpopular with voters issue of HMOs down the road.
HMOs are spreading to areas where they haven’t been before partly because the Serco refugee contracts are so attractive to landlords, but even if the council makes a show of opposing them, it’s generally worth going to appeal as the Planning Inspectorate tend to take a view that unless there is a *very* high concentration of HMOs in an area, new ones just add variety to the local market. Which still leaves councillors having to deal with the increasingly grumpy voters…
By Rotringer
HMOs should be outlawed unless licensed by universities. They are a scourge on this country.
By Heritage Action
Why are these HMO’s being concentrated in what can be seen as the lower socio-economic areas of Warrington? Why not Lymm, Grappenhall, Stockton Heath? I base my question on average house market prices for said areas.
By Fizzer