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V25-610 : ADRIAN LODGE, CHURCH ROAD, LOWESTOFT

HOUSE IN MULTIPLE OCCUPATION

On 15 March 1994 a report was taken to the Housing in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Panel recommending the pursuance of enforcement action to require the cessation of unauthorised use of the above property as an HMO. The Notice was issued on 13 June 1994 to take effect one month from the date of issue.

Subsequent meetings at the property revealed that it remained in breach of the Notice. However, to date, Court proceedings had not been pursued because the owner had consistently maintained that the property would revert to its previous use, approved on 16 March 1984, of an elderly persons home. This had not materialised, partially because Suffolk County Council Social Services Department would not formally register the house for this use under its present ownership. The ongoing negotiations between the owner and the Social Services Department had suggested that alternative management arrangements which could be acceptable to Social Services would be pursued, and this had contributed to the delay in proceeding with prosecution.

The property was very well managed, the fabric of the building was of the highest order and the Director of Housing and Environmental Services was satisfied with the standards of fire precautions work. It also appeared that the use did not give rise to disturbance to neighbouring properties, evident by the fact that in the three years succeeding the issue of the Enforcement Notice no complaints had been received.

Given all these facts, the owner had been advised at inspections and by letter on three occasions that it may be worthwhile applying for planning permission to regularise the HMO use. Despite these requests, no application had been submitted.

RESOLVED

That a planning application be requested to regularise the unauthorised use of Adrian Lodge, Church Lane, Lowestoft as a House in Multiple Occupation, and that in the event of no application being made within two months the outstanding Enforcement Notice and Court proceedings be pursued.

PLANNING APPLICATIONS

Volume 25 Minute 610

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