Forum Post: 66 Crown road - conversion to 8 bed-sits
The old surgery at 66 Crown road is currently being converted into 8 bed-sits. There is no planning application for this, no change of use has been granted and the builders are working as I type.
A previous planning application in respect of 66 Crown Road was refused last year. Richmond council have opened an enforcement case 09/0013EN.
If, like me, you have concerns regarding this development please email planningenforcement@richmond.gov.uk quoting the case number above.
— from jayc=
Comments
Today I received an e-mail from Richard Carter, Planning Enforcement Officer at LBRUT. (Tel: 020 8891 7458, Fax: 020 7789 7789, Email: richard.carter@richmond.gov.uk ) regarding the change of use building work at 66 Crown Road.
Mr. Carter stated that it is the owner's intention to apply before the end of March for planning permission for a change of use of the property - from single dwelling house to house of multiple occupancy (HMO) - in other words to create some form of hostel.
The council's web site - at www.richmond.gov.uk/home/environment/planning/planning_consultation_comments_and_applications/objecting_to_or_supporting_a_planning_application/what_is_a_valid_objection_to_a_planning_application.htm - sets out the grounds for objecting to a planning application.
The Council's web site lists weekly planning applications at www.richmond.gov.uk/home/environment/planning/search_planning_applications.htm.
To date, no application has been lodged.
If the hostel - is three or more storeys high - it has five or more people in more than one household, and - the occupants share amenities such as bathrooms, toilets or cooking facilities, it will be deemed to be a High Risk HMO and a licence application to LBRUT will be mandatory.
When considering an HMO licence application, the council must take in to account 2 broad issues :
- whether the HMO is reasonably suitable for occupation by the number of persons, and - whether the licence holder is a fit and proper person.
The Council states that "In making [a fit and proper person] assessment the LA must have regard to
The licence holder will normally be the property's owner.
The Land Registry's web site states that the owner of 66 Crown Road is Mr. ROBERT GRAHAM MASSIE of 21 MASONS WAY, CODMORE HILL, PULBOROUGH, WEST SUSSEX RH20 1DZ, Tel. (01798) 872179. He bought 66 Crown Road on 11 December 2007 for £675,000, which was financed by a mortgage from the Northern Rock Building Society.
His previous addresses are 11 WEST TEMPLE SHEEN, EAST SHEEN, LONDON, SW14 7RT CONEYBURY COAST HILL LANE, WESTCOTT, DORKING, SURREY RH4 3LJ 12 CHAPEL CLOSE, LONDON ROAD WATERSFIELD, PULBOROUGH, WEST SUSSEX RH20 1SA
The 2009 Electoral Register states that he resides at 21 Masons Way with NICOLE MASSIE. The Electoral Rolls for 2002 - 2008 stated that he shared the properly with Nicole and MILDRED K MASSIE, NICOLE ANDERSON, ROMUALD M MATLEY.
Companies House Register of Directors shows a Robert Graham Massie to also reside at THE WHITE HOUSE 129 ANYARDS ROAD, COBHAM, SURREY KT11 2LJ. This is the same address as Burhill Homes Ltd - www.burhillhomes.com/index.html - a firm of commercial property developers, although the company's registered address is HAMILTON HOUSE 25 HIGH STREET, RICKMANSWORTH, HERTFORDSHIRE, WD3 1ET.
All the above information regarding Mr. ROBERT GRAHAM MASSIE is in the public domain and can be retrieved from the internet within about 20 minutes.
Action Required
- Check the LBRUT weekly lists of planning applications for 66 Crown Road at www.richmond.gov.uk/home/environment/planning/search_planning_applications.htm.
- Write to Richard Carter, Planning Enforcement Officer at LBRUT. (Tel: 020 8891 7458, Fax: 020 7789 7789, Email: richard.carter@richmond.gov.uk ) objecting to the application on the grounds listed at www.richmond.gov.uk/home/environment/planning/planning_consultation_comments_and_applications/objecting_to_or_supporting_a_planning_application/what_is_a_valid_objection_to_a_planning_application.htm
- Write to Richard Carter regarding the unsuitability of the proposed House of Multiple Occupancy within a neighbourhood of single family dwellings.
- Find out further public domain information regarding the property's owner - Mr. ROBERT GRAHAM MASSIE of 21 MASONS WAY, CODMORE HILL, PULBOROUGH, WEST SUSSEX RH20 1DZ, to help determine whether he is a fit and proper person to hold an HMO licence.
uncle ho on 2009-03-16 18:36:43 +0000Change of Use Applications received. LBRUT Planning Dept has now received an application for change of use for 66 Crown Road from "A Doctors Surgery To A House For Multiple Occupancy." The applications details, so far as they exist, can be seen at www2.richmond.gov.uk/PlanData2/Planning_CaseNo.aspx?strCASENO=09/0703/COU The link to Scanned Images doesn't work at the time of writing this post. Please monitor the Planning Dept's web pages to check the status of this application. It is crucial that as many people as possible object the development of a hostel in a neighbourhood of families with young children.
uncle ho on 2009-04-03 15:03:26 +0000Thank you very much for that information it is greatly appreciated. I am very worried about a possible hostel in an area which is not suitable as there is a primary school in the same road
hilary english on 2009-06-30 13:49:03 +0000On Thursday 2 July I met with Bryan Staff, North Ward planning officer, to discuss the proposed development of a hostel at 66 Crown Road.
He advised that he would assess matters such as the ratio of bedrooms to bathrooms [8 bedroom to 1 bathroom and 2 wcs], and the number of rooms without a window [bedrooms #2 and #5, bathroom, and kitchen and living space appear from the plans not to have windows]. As the Council does not have any established density criteria for the occupancy of residential dwellings, he stated that this property's proposals would be judged on their own merits.
Under delegated powers from the Planning Committee, he has the discretion to either reject the application, or, if he recommends it for approval, send it for review by the Committee. Residents who have objected to the development will be informed of the date of the Committee's hearing.
Bottom Line The idea that "young professionals" would want to live in an 8 bed hostel and share bathroom and kitchen facilities with strangers is not credible. When you were "a young professional" did you want to live in a hostel? Neither did I. A few friends and I chose to share a flat in a busier, younger, less family dominated part of inner London. I suspect today's "young professionals" will want to do something similar. So who will live in the hostel? According to Mr. Staff, anyone can live there - Mr. Massie's statement of intent is not binding and the Council has no power to veto its residents.
Proximity of the development to the infant school and your children is irrelevant.
Eight bedsits may house more than 8 people. Although an HMO of 8 bedsits requires a licence and a manager, he/she does not need to be resident in the property. The plans for 66 Crown Road make no provision to accommodate a manager. Mr. Massie may be the manager. He lives in Pulborough - 50 miles from St. Margarets.
No parking, refuse or recycling provisions have been made in the application. The refuse / recycling mess from 8 people will cause further clutter, untidiness and a feeding frenzy for foxes.
If young professionals are the target market, it is possible that they will own cars. 8 more cars from one house will exacerbate the parking congestion in Crown Rd, Napoleon Rd, and Claremont Rd.
The rejection of the previous planning application for overuse and congestion is irrelevant. At least one local resident has expressed the opinion that the grounds for the previous rejection hold true for the current application. They do, but unless local residents communicate such objections once again to the Council, Mr. Staff and the Planning Committee will not take them into account.
Action Required
adequacy of parking - car and cycle adequacy of refuse and recycling provision highway safety traffic generation noise and disturbance previous planning decisions (although this is inconsistent with Mr. Staff's views)
You may know of other grounds for objection. Please share them here.
If anyone else has discussed the hostel development with the Council, I would very interested to hear their feedback
greg hughes on 2009-07-03 10:55:20 +0000I have just read the application and was interested to note that the application shows 2 exisiting parking spaces. The only parking in the vicinity is residents parking.
When it was a surgery it had some on-street designated surgery space during working hours. This has since reverted to residents parking. As far as I am aware this is public highway and not under the ownership of Mr Massie.
jayc on 2009-07-07 12:28:44 +0000Add a comment