Councillors to make decision on plan to convert Sunderland shop into 'bedsits'
The application was referred to the council's Planning and Highways Committee by Barnes ward councillor Ehthesham Haque, which means it will be decided by councillors at a public meeting
by Chris Binding · ChronicleLivePlans to transform a Sunderland shop into 'bedsits' are set to be reviewed by councillors this month. The Planning and Highways Committee of Sunderland City Council will deliberate over the future of the Chester News site at 129 Chester Road, near the Chesters pub.
Planning documents reveal that the ground floor commercial space is currently vacant, with a residential flat occupying the first floor, its kitchen area extending to part of the ground floor. Initial proposals submitted to council officials sought to convert the ground floor of the property into three 'bedsits', each equipped with en-suite bathroom facilities.
However, due to the "lack of communal space", applicants were advised that the proposal would likely be recommended for refusal as it would "provide an inadequate level of residential amenity for future occupiers". Revised plans were put forward in August, 2024, reducing the number of bedsits from three to two and incorporating a kitchen/lounge area and separate toilet and shower room.
The proposed works also include external modifications to "replace the shopfront with domestic-style double glazed windows and a domestic entrance door". Normally, planning applications of this nature are decided by council officers under 'delegated powers'.
However, Barnes ward councillor Ehthesham Haque referred the application to the council’s Planning and Highways Committee, meaning the decision will be made by councillors at a public meeting.
Sunderland City Council’s planning department, in a report published ahead of the decision-making meeting, has recommended the planning application for approval.
Join our WhatsApp communities
ChronicleLive is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our communities.
We have a number of communities to join, so you can choose which one you want to be part of and we'll send you the latest news direct to your phone. You could even join them all!
To join you need to have WhatsApp on your device. All you need to do is choose which community you want to join, click on the link and press 'join community'.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the ChronicleLive team.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners.
If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
If you’re curious, you can read our privacy notice.
Join the ChronicleLive Breaking News and Top Stories community
Join our Court & Crime community
Join the Things to do in Newcastle and the North East community
Join our Northumberland community
Join our County Durham community
Join our Great North Run community
Any approval would be on the condition that the applicant makes a financial contribution towards coastal ecology mitigation, helping to “address likely significant effects on European sites, arising from recreational impacts generated by new residential development”.
The committee report adds: “The principle of changing the ground floor to a HMO (house in multiple occupation) is acceptable.
“The amended proposal would cause no harm to the visual amenity of the street scene or host property, and is unlikely to cause significant harm to the amenity of existing residential occupiers in the locality given the prevailing mix of residential and commercial accommodation in the area.
“The prospective occupiers are also considered to be afforded an adequate level of amenity whilst the proposal would not be considered to impact negatively on highway or pedestrian safety or ecology, subject to the receipt of the coastal mitigation strategy contribution.”
The council’s Planning and Highways Committee will review the proposed plans on October 21, 2024, at Sunderland's City Hall.
The meeting is set to commence at 5.30pm and members of the public can attend. Those interested in more details about the planning application or wishing to follow its journey can visit the council’s planning portal website and use the reference number: 24/00480/FUL.