Police have raised major concerns over plans to turn Barry offices into temporary accommodation
The plans, lodged by NKW Properties, would convert 163 Holton Road into a 12-bedroom bedsit, which would be operated by the council’s housing department.
The application reads: “It is expected this accommodation will be occupied by transient residents and is predicted to be for a relatively short period of time, estimated a maximum of 18 months.”
It continues: “It is acknowledged that some units are smaller than others and this will be managed accordingly.”
South Wales Police objected to the plans “with regret”.
In their letter to the planning offices it outlines a number of concerns.
These include: “South Wales Police would argue that the characteristics of an HMO (house of multiple occupancies) and its more transient population mean that they are significantly at a higher risk of crime than a single family, occupied dwelling.
“HMOs by their very nature mean that occupants will have multiple possessions of potential value and buildings will attract multiple visitors which may significantly increase the opportunities for crime, nuisance and noise.”
This is in addition to many HMOs having “poor quality security and safety features” and the number of HMOs already in the area.
However, the police recognise that HMOs “provide an important source of housing and form part of a balanced housing provision mix”, the “very urgent need” for temporary housing, the application’s temporary consent and the applicant’s track record.
Barry Town Council has no objection “in principle” to the building being used as housing but “an objection is raised to the volume of proposed dwellings”.
A comment from the Vale of Glamorgan’s housing strategy reads that there is a “continuous need for temporary accommodation” in the area and supports the application.
The application reads: “Due to the unique operation of these units the usual congregational amenity spaces are to be avoided to prevent any territorial and anti-social behaviours that can be experienced in such accommodation provisions – the outside spaces, therefore will receive minimal landscaping to protect privacies and will provide for bin storage and drying areas, no parking will be included apart from bicycle racking for the use of residents within a secured courtyard at the rear.
Planning documents also read that the applicant has a “proven track record” working with the council’s housing department on similar schemes in the area and “acknowledges this is a temporary consent to meet a very urgent need”
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