18/02715/FUL

154 Cricket Road Oxford Oxfordshire OX4 3DL

23 November 2018

Change of use of dwellinghouse (Use Class C3) to a House in Multiple Occupation (Use Class C4). Provision of bin and cycle stores. (Retrospective)

Oxford Civic Society agrees and endorses the report of Mr J Lee, Country Hall that despite the retrospective nature of this application there are a number of issues that must be addressed before an HMO licence is granted.

• ‘The plans provided do not include drawings of the existing driveway and so it is impossible to accurately measure whether the driveway can accommodate two cars, as per the recommended standards in policy HP16 in the Sites and Housing Plan. Since the property lies outside of a CPZ, there is no way to formally enforce on-street parking and it is vital that sufficient off-street parking be provided.

OCS has observed the location of number 154 and believes access to driveway parking is problematic for two vehicles given the positioning of a tree and a traffic-calming measure directly outside the property.

• Before the development permitted is commenced details of the cycle parking areas, including dimensions and means of enclosure, shall be submitted to, and approved in writing by, the Local Planning Authority. The development shall not be brought into use until the cycle parking areas and means of enclosure have been provided within the site in accordance with the approved details and thereafter the areas shall be retained solely for the purpose of the parking of cycles

OCS has observed that refuse bins (2) are currently stored behind a low wooden structure immediately to the right of the front window of the property.  There is currently no evidence of any cycle rack structure.  Such a structure (4 cycles) would be problematic if two cars were parked in the driveway and consideration might be given to placing the racks to the side pathway of the property, which is shared with number 156.