HMO plan would add to parking woes in Milton Keynes, says inspector throwing out appeal

Government inspector Anne Denby visited Wisley Avenue, in Bradwell Common, on June 2 and saw cars parked wholly on the pavements, which helped her make up her mind.

Miss Gurleen Gawera of Royston, in Hertfordshire, had appealed to the Planning Inspectorate after Milton Keynes Council rejected her plan to formally convert the house to a HMO.

She told the inspectorate that young people have a right to be able to live close to work and not to use cars.

But the inspector said no evidence had been provided to prove the case, and anyway tenants could change.

Ms Denby said: “I saw on my site visit that due to the restricted width of the road vehicles park inappropriately, either partially or wholly on the footpath, in an attempt to avoid obstructing two-way traffic.

“This leaves little or no room for pedestrians, particularly those with pushchairs or in wheelchairs to pass.”

There was only one parking space at the end of terrace property, when three are needed under the council’s policy. And the council’s policy is not to count garages.

“I consider the deficiency in on-plot parking could lead to inappropriate parking within the cul-de-sac,” she concluded in her decision dated July 8.

But the inspector rejected a second reason put forward by the council to reject the plan.

Council planners had said that because there is another HMO in Wisely Avenue the concentration is too high.

But the inspector said “I am satisfied that the proposal would not result in an undue over concentration of such uses that would result in an imbalance or harm to the mix of housing within the local community.”