LOCAL residents are being invited to have a say on the vexed question of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in Warrington.
The borough council has launched a new draft document designed to manage the development of HMOs and will be available for consultation until Friday, April 24 at 5 pm.
The aim of the Draft HMO Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), is to provide clear, detailed guidance for anyone involved in new residential developments, including HMO operators, homeowners, architects, and planning agents.
In recent times, the number of planning applications for HMOs in the borough has attracted much criticism from the public.
Warrington North MP Charlotte Nichols raised the issue last year and encouraged her constituents to get involved in the planning process.
The council says the new document will serve as an important resource for local communities, offering a clear framework to help residents understand what defines an HMO and explaining how the planning system can manage issues such as the number of new HMOs and “clustering” in specific neighbourhoods.
It is intended to empower residents to provide informed feedback on future planning applications.
Supplementary Planning Documents build upon and provide more detailed advice or guidance on policies in Warrington’s adopted Local Plan. While they cannot introduce new planning policies into the development plan, they are an important consideration in decision-making.
The guidance covers several key areas, including:
• Clustering: Criteria to assess and prevent an over-concentration of HMOs in one area.
• Living standards: Detailed requirements for minimum room sizes and high-quality design.
• Infrastructure: Standards for waste and bin storage, as well as car and cycle parking.
The council’s cabinet member for planning policy and development, Cllr John Kerr-Brown, said: “This document forms an important part of our work to ensure the growth and impact of HMOs in Warrington is managed effectively, while continuing to support the provision of good-quality, affordable accommodation, within sustainable, balanced communities.
“We want to hear from as many people as possible during this consultation period process. Whether you are a developer, a landlord, or a resident living next door to a potential development, your feedback is essential. Please take the time to review the draft and have your say.”
The consultation, which is being carried out in accordance with national planning regulations, runs for four weeks.
The draft SPD and full details on how to submit comments are available to view on the council’s website warrington.gov.uk
