Plans to bulldoze a former garage on a residential Crewe street and replace it with a house of multiple occupation (HMO) have been refused.

Sean Stockton wanted to demolish the two-storey flat-roofed garage on Minshull New Road and build a two-and-a-half-storey seven-bedroom HMO.

But several residents objected to the proposal and the council's planning officers also recommended the scheme be refused.

Ward councillor James Pratt (Conservative), told Wednesday's (November 29) meeting of the southern planning committee: "There's been a lot of anxiety and concern for neighbours living around this proposed development."

He urged the committee to refuse the application on the grounds of inadequate parking, overcrowding of the site and poor quality accommodation as well as the impact on neighbouring properties and negative effects on local amenity.

Cllr James Pratt, Crewe St Barnabas, Conservative (Cheshire East Council).

The committee was told by planning officer Daniel Evans it was believed the building would provide short-term accommodation for workers who might be based at Bentley or Leighton Hospital if the scheme was approved.

But he said even though it might be for short-term accommodation, one of the reasons officers were opposed to it was because some of the rooms didn't have clear glazed windows – some were obscure glass because of privacy issues and some windows were in the roof – so some residents would not even be able to look outside.

Cllr John Wray (Brereton, Conservative), moved the application be refused as per officers' recommendations.

The application was refused on the grounds it was unacceptable for future occupiers, in terms of loss of light, amenity space, overbearing impact and privacy.

The committee also agreed the proposal would cause harm to the character and appearance of the area and that it should be refused because of a lack of parking provision.

Eight councillors voted for refusal and one voted against.

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