By: John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporter: Rejected plans to turn a former dentists in Bath into a shared house have been resubmitted by developers.
Part of the building containing St Michael’s GP surgery had been a dentist but now stands vacant and planning permission is being sought to turn it into a house in multiple occupation (HMO). But when the plans were first submitted in January they were turned down just two months later.
Local councillors Sarah Moore and Tim Ball (both Twerton and Whiteway, Liberal Democrat) had raised concern last time that the house two doors down had permission to be converted into an HMO too. They warned this would leave the next door neighbours “sandwiched” between two HMOs and the plans were turned down.
An HMO is a house shared by multiple people who do not form one family, and HMOs can range in nature from a group of friends sharing a house to what are effectively separate flats with some shared facilities. Bath and North East Somerset Council has policies against non-HMO homes being “sandwiched” by HMOs.
But now the applicants have submitted a new planning application, arguing that the planning permission for the house two doors down to become an HMO has now expired, so there is no longer a risk of the home being sandwiched.
A statement submitted with the application said: “The proposal represents a sustainable, well-designed solution that will improve the quality and appearance of the existing building. It is with this in mind that we seek the approval of the scheme by Bath and North-East Somerset Council.”
You can view and comment on the application here: https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/webforms/planning/details.
Arrest: A 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage as part of an investigation into graffiti tagging in Bath last month. The arrest relates to incidents in which the tag ‘Jenga’ has been sprayed onto buildings in several locations, including Walcot Street, Bath Street and Guinea Lane.
A member of the public called police to say a man was spraying a building on Upper Bristol Road last month. Officers attended and following a short foot-chase, a man was arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage.
The man has been released on conditional bail while enquiries continue. If you have any information in relation to this investigation, call 101 and give the call handler the reference number 5224242768, or complete the online appeals form.
South West in Bloom Awards By Alison Stubbs: The Bath Business Improvement District (BID) announced its recent success at the South West in Bloom Awards, where it secured a Gold Award but was also celebrated as the overall winner in the BID category for the South West region.
South West in Bloom, is one of eighteen regional competitions of Britain in Bloom umbrella, aims to rejuvenate local environments through creative planting, conservation, recycling projects, and the elimination of litter, graffiti, and vandalism.
Britain in Bloom and Bath in Bloom celebrated their 60th anniversary this year, Bath were the first winners back in 1964 and over the years and have won it 15 times and have been finalists 25 times.
Bath in Bloom won Gold in the Champion of Champions sector and they also won the South West Tourism Salver (Best Portfolio).
Entries for 2025 open at the end of this year. For more on the competition visit https://www.southwestinbloom.org.uk/
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