HMO plans approved after adding communal dining space

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 10 Nov, 17:43 · Archive

Westmorland and Furness Council has approved a five-bedroom house in multiple occupation at a former shop in Barrow after the applicant added communal dining and living areas.

Westmorland and Furness Council has approved plans to convert the upper floors of 210 Dalton Road in Barrow into a five-bedroom house in multiple occupation, whilst retaining commercial space on the ground floor. The building is the former home of Animal Welfare Furness.

The application was submitted by Rupinder Sahota through Fox Architectural Design Ltd. The original proposal was for six en-suite bedrooms aimed at students or young professionals. However, the council's HMO officer identified a significant gap: there was no dining table in the communal areas. The officer questioned whether residents were 'expected to eat hot meals on their beds'.

Barrow Parish Council also objected, stating there was 'no place to eat, socialise or communal welfare space, only a small kitchen facility'. The parish council additionally argued that HMO accommodation was over-saturated in the area, with more than 30 rooms within a one-minute walk on nearby streets including Dalton Road, Buccleuch Street and surrounding residential areas.

Sahota amended the plans in response. The revised scheme reduced the bedrooms from six to five and introduced a separate communal dining and living area alongside the kitchen. These changes satisfied the council's requirements, and permission was granted.

How it is being reported

• Scaled-down HMO bid granted after concerns over where occupants would eatWestmorland and Furness Council approves a five-bedroom HMO at Barrow’s former Animal Welfare Furness shop after plans add communal living space.Cumberland News · 10 Nov, 17:25
• Scaled-down HMO bid granted after concerns over where occupants would eatWestmorland and Furness Council approves a five-bedroom HMO at Barrow’s former Animal Welfare Furness shop after plans add communal living space.Whitehaven News · 10 Nov, 17:25
• Scaled-down HMO bid granted after concerns over where occupants would eatPlans to convert part of Barrow's former Animal Welfare Furness shop and the entire first and second floors into a five-bedroom house in multiple occupation (HMO) have been approved after the scheme was scaled back.NW Evening Mail · 10 Nov, 06:00

In this story: Westmorland and Furness Council · Rupinder Sahota · Fox Architectural Design Ltd · Barrow Parish Council · Barrow · Animal Welfare Furness

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log