New vision for Hereford city centre building criticised

Number two in High Street is currently a mobile phone shop on the ground floor, but letting company Gora UK wants a nine-bed house of multiple occupation (HMO) above.

In a design and access statement submitted to planners at Herefordshire Council, agent Bhav Mistry of Urban Hybrid Architecture in Bradford said the upper two floors are currently un-used and seem to have been vacant for some considerable time.

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And there are plans to add a fourth storey to the building, matching its neighbours.

There would be nine bedrooms and they would share a living and kitchen area.

But Green Party ward councillor Jeremy Milln has labelled the idea "unacceptable", hitting out over natural light and venilation in the bedrooms.

In his letter of objection to council planners, he said the single rooms measured around 8 sq metres and the doubles 13 sq metres.

"This is at the bottom end of what most local authorities would consider acceptable," he said.

He said the rooms without windows would rely on the "light well" where the staircase is, but this could have little effect on some. He also had concerns over ventilation, saying just two of the nine bedsits having windows which could provide fresh air.

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He also had concerns about the inpractical first-floor cycle store, and the size of the ground floor area where bins would be kept.

"For these reasons I consider this to be an unacceptable form of development inconsistent with county plan objectives for social progress and well-being and this response should be recorded as an objection," he said, adding that in principle, a new use for the building would be good.

A design and access statement submitted to planners said: "The aim is to create small-scale, high-quality residential accommodation, for young singles by utilising the upper floors of a commercial building that are presently vacant and have been for some time."

The new residential rooms would be on the upper floors with access from East Street through a new access gate and upgraded walkway, the scheme's consultants said.

Once inside the building, access to the first floor would be via a new staircase which would bring residents onto a redesigned internal layout.

The first floor would have three bedsits, and the existing second floor would be extended to match the size of the first. It would have two bedsit rooms and the communal living, kitchen and dining space.

The new third floor would be built above, but consultants said the roofline level would still sit below that of adjoining properties. There would be four bedsit rooms on the third floor.

There would also be a storage area/room which could provide storage for cycles for residents on the first floor.

Comments on application 220095 can be made until February 17, with March 18 the target date for a decision.