Councillors refused three shared-house plans on 21 October, two against officers' advice, and approved 45 Cleave Road despite 54 objections.

Medway councillors refused three plans for houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) on 21 October. Two of those refusals went against their officers’ advice.

They also deferred a fourth and approved a fifth, despite 54 objections. The outcomes are in the Planning Committee’s record of the meeting, published since. It is a draft until the next meeting approves it.

Address Proposal Decision Main reason given
3 James Street, Rochester Six-bedroom HMO, from 6 to 7 people Refused, against officers’ advice Parking pressure
61 King Street, Gillingham House to 5-bedroom HMO Refused Bedroom and kitchen sizes
25 Franklin Road, Gillingham House to 7-person HMO, with extensions Refused, against officers’ advice Noise and disturbance to neighbours
48 Franklin Road, Gillingham House to 7-person HMO, with rear dormer Deferred Usable size of a roof-space ensuite
45 Cleave Road, Gillingham House to HMO for up to 6 people Approved with conditions Officers found it acceptable

The one that was approved

45 Cleave Road drew the most opposition. A ward councillor’s email, read to the committee, said there were 54 objections, including from the local MP.

The email said the house is in Watling ward, where an Article 4 Direction applies because of the number of HMOs. It is also in the Gillingham Park Conservation Area.

The Chief Planning Officer reminded members that the number of objections is not in itself a reason to refuse. The conservation officer had assessed the plan as acceptable, and the committee approved it.

The two refused against advice

3 James Street. The house has already been lawfully converted to hold six people. The application added one more by sharing a double bedroom.

The ward councillor objected to what would be a third HMO in a row of 22 terraced houses. A deferral was suggested, but the Chief Planning Officer warned of a possible appeal for non-determination.

Officers’ recommendation to approve was lost. Members refused it because a seventh person would add parking demand in an area the refusal describes as already suffering from parking stress. One councillor asked for his vote in favour of approval to be recorded.

25 Franklin Road. This plan had been cut from nine people to seven. Members said they found it hard to identify planning reasons to refuse, and the Chief Planning Officer urged caution about reasons not raised at an earlier appeal.

They voted down approval anyway. The refusal rests on noise and disturbance, including from a front door right next to the neighbour’s.

The ward councillor told the committee that more than 1,000 children in Medway were living in temporary accommodation, and that the house suited a family. That figure is her statement to the meeting.

The other two

61 King Street. Officers counted 111 properties on the street, four of them existing HMOs, about 3.6%. The refusal rests partly on one bedroom being too narrow and the kitchen too small.

48 Franklin Road. Officers said 21 HMOs already lie within 500 metres. The ward councillor cited eight objections. It was deferred for talks with the applicant, and the record gives no date for its return.

At the same meeting, councillors also approved a digital LED advertising display at Ballard Business Park in Strood.

What it means for you

If you live near one of these houses, the refusals may not be the end. An applicant can appeal to the Planning Inspectorate.

If you are worried about an HMO near you, a small HMO of up to six people does not always need planning permission. Where an Article 4 Direction applies, as in Watling ward, it does. Larger HMOs always need it.

You can look up any application through our Medway planning applications guide. The next Planning Committee is on 18 November.