Plans submitted for two 7 bed HMOs in Preston city centre - including one in a Grade II listed property

Two separate applications have been submitted for new seven bed HMOs (house in multiple occupation) in Preston City Centre.

Both submitted on April 23 by two different applicants, one is earmarked for 64 Deedale Road and the other at 72 Eldon Street.

64 Deepdale Road forms part of Stephenson Terrace, a symmetrical range of townhouses built in the mid 19th century.

It is currently home to AM Accountants and we have approached them for further clarification on their future at the premises.

This application, submitted by ZAS Properties, seeks to change the use of the building from mix use office (Class E) and residential (Class C3) to one seven bed house in multiple occupation (Sui Generis) with an office and meeting room in the basement and the creation of a lightwell to the front elevation with metal black railings.

Currently the 137.90 square metre site features offices, a boardroom, a reception, a WC and a kitchen on the ground floor, with two storage rooms each in the basement and on the second floor.

The first floor is then a three bed flat, featuring a hall, kitchen, WC and a separate shower room.

Plan drawings for the proposed new look of 64 Deepdale Road show that the extra four bedrooms will be made using the first floor boardroom, one of the offices and the two second floor storage rooms.

All seven bedrooms will then have an ensuite, the first floor kitchen will remain the same, whilst the other first floor office will become a combined kitchen/lounge and the basement storage rooms, an office, a meeting room, a WC and a separate shower room.

In the heritage stagement, planning agent A & T Architectural Design state that no extensions are proposed “to preserve the special architectural interest of the Grade II listing” whilst the “modest changes” to the lightwell and railings “improves ventilation and light for the basement office while remaining sympathetic to the historic character of the terrace”.

The application for 72 Eldon Street meanwhile, submitted by a Ms Jane Seed, seeks to change the use of one dwelling (Class C3) to one seven bed house of multiple occupation (Sui Generis), with the addition of a single storey rear extension, rear dormer and rooflights to the front.

Plan drawings show that one of the two existing lounges on the ground floor will be converted into an ensuite bedroom, whilst a second will be created with the proposed rear extension and the existing kitchen and second lounge will remain as they are.

The two existing bedrooms on the first floor will be made ensuites whilst the existing bathroom will become a fifth ensuite bedroom.

The further two ensuite bedrooms will be found in a new second floor extension, whilst there will be a new dormer roof too.

In the Design and Access Statement, the planning agent Mr M Ellam states: “The development aims to utilise the property more efficiently while maintaining residential character and improving internal safety and amenity through modern upgrades.”

You can read the full applications, and submit a comment, online here.

These applications were submitted just three days after another request for a new HMO in the city centre was submitted.

Last week, Preston City Council received an application seeking to change the use of 22 Broadgate from a dwelling to a nine bed HMO, alongside the erection of dormer extensions to the rear and front.

The application form, submitted by agents SAP Architectural Designs on behalf of a Mr Abid Amer, confirmed that work has already started but the property is currently vacant.

You can read more about this plan here.

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