Floors above Ilkeston barber shop to be turned into seven-person bedsit

A councillor said the rooms did look small but said it was a case of “buyers beware”.

Plans to turn the upper floors above a Derbyshire town barber shop into a seven-person HMO (house in multiple occupancy) have been approved. At an Erewash Borough Council meeting last night (Wednesday, October 16) councillors approved plans to turn the three upper floors of 144a Bath Street in Ilkeston into a 7-bed series of bedsits.

Wellstead Property Limited, registered in London, detailed in its application that access to the bedsits would be gained from Stamford Street and that tenants would share a kitchen and dining area and a rear courtyard but have their own en-suite bathrooms.

Bedsits would range in size from eight square metres to 15.3 square metres – not including the associated bathrooms. Eight objection letters had been submitted to the council opposing the plans claiming it was unsuitable in a conservation area, would lead to disturbance of existing residents and cause an increase in waste and anti-social behaviour, including street-drinking and fly-tipping.

Cllr Margaret Griffiths told the meeting: “At first glance, these are very small, but they are a reasonable size. Seven dwellings for seven people and I am sure they are more comfortable than they look to be.” Cllr Kevin Miller said the rooms did look small but said it was a case of “buyers beware”.

Cllr Dave Doyle said: “I don’t like HMOs but when we don’t have other developments going on this is what we are going to have to go with to get people living in town centres.” Cllr Tim Scott said he was aware of some “great” HMOs but was concerned about the available amenity space.

Councillors approved the plans by a vote of eight in favour and two abstentions. The developers had written in their application: “The proposal offers a suitable HMO and will deliver significant social and economic benefits to this area while not resulting in any detrimental harm to the area’s surrounding environment, including the surrounding conservation area.

“The proposal will contribute to the housing mix by adding to the varied housing available for all people within the area and offers an acceptable level of amenity. It is also within a sustainable location with services, amenities, and public transport available via active travel.”

Council planning officials, recommending approval, had written: “The site is in a highly sustainable location, being within Ilkeston town centre and immediately alongside bus stops serving almost all routes in and out of Ilkeston. Objectors’ concerns regarding a potential increase in crime and anti-social behaviour make assumptions about the behaviours of the people who might live in the property.

"Inevitably, there is no direct evidence to substantiate those assumptions because the future occupants are unknown. The proposal would only marginally intensify the use of the premises from a four-bedroom flat (which might house more than 4 people) to a 7-bedroom, 7-person HMO.”