Inspector allows HMO in Milton Keynes after council did not contest owner’s challenge over "flawed" evidence

Owner Egor Aboymov appealed to a Government planning inspector after Milton Keynes Council refused his plan to convert a house in Bossiney Place, in Fishermead, into a house in multiple occupation (HMO).

Planning inspector Gemma Pannell decided last month to allow the appeal after Mr Aboymov challenged the council’s evidence that some 47 per cent of local properties were already HMOs.

The council’s policy stops more than 35 per cent of properties within a 50 m radius from being HMOs.

But Mr Aboymov challenged the details of some of the properties on the council’s HMO list, saying it was flawed, and came up with is own figure of 31 per cent. This put a hole in the council’s case.

Ms Pannell said: “Council have not responded to a request for comments on the appellant’s evidence.”

She added: “There is no substantive evidence before me to demonstrate that the proposal would result in an over concentration of HMOs within the area.”

And the inspector concluded: “The development would not result in harm being caused to the character of the area, with particular regard to the mix of housing types.”

Council planners had also argued that there was a lack of parking in the area when they originally refused the plan for the mid-terrace house in June 2019.

But the difference in terms of the council’s policy and what was already there amounted to just half a parking space.

The inspector said there was plenty of room in the on-street parking bays, which meant that it was ok in the circumstances to break the council’s normal parking standards.

She decided: “In conclusion, taking into account the existing dwelling’s lack of parking provision, the proximity to on-street parking and the range of alternative means of transport, including walking to access nearby services, I consider that the development would… not result in an unacceptable level of additional pressure on off-site parking.”

The inspector ordered the owner to put a plan for cycle and refuse storage for approval from the council.

She also imposed a limit of five bedrooms and no more than six people living in the building at any one time.