An Isle of Wight tenant has expressed outrage over a proposed house conversion that would render her ‘homeless’, along with her extended family.
Enya Dunn-Green condemned Martha James of Plan Research’s planning application to convert 2 existing flats within Hurstleigh – a house with a ‘substantial garden’ – on The Broadway, Totland.
As a resident of the property, she slammed it as an action that would ruin an intimate community built over 5 generations.
According to Ms James’s plans, a rear extension to the building would enable the creation of 4x 2-bedroom apartments, replacing 1x 3-bedroom flat and another with 4 bedrooms.
The council has so far received 8 other submissions raising concerns with the application.
They relate to the eviction of the extended family living in the 2 existing flats, pressure on local infrastructure and public services, parking availability, traffic congestion, negative aesthetic and environmental impacts, the developer’s motivations, overdevelopment and local housing needs.
Ms Dunn-Green has said:
“My family and I have called this humble 2-flat villa in Totland our home for over a quarter of a century.
Article continues below this advertisement “While my immediate family and I reside in the bottom flat, my extended family live in the one above creating a truly wonderful family home.
“They (the applicants) have recently put forward a planning application seeking to transform our two-flat villa into a four-flat property — an action that would render us homeless and ruin the intimate community we have built over the five generations we have lived in this village.
“It’s essential to keep in mind that tenant eviction not only leads to homelessness but also contributes to the grave social issue of housing instability.
“We are not against property development, but this should not come at the expense of long-term tenants, our community, and the mental and emotional strain such changes bring.”
The application’s Design and Access Statement states:
“This scheme would create relatively affordable housing for starter homes, or properties for those wishing to downsize.
“According to the statistics available, two-bedroomed properties are in the most need on the Island, and these units involve the re-use of previously developed land.
“There have been several previous permissions for conversions to four flats at this property, as the council has consistently agreed that the property is suitable for conversion.
“Unlike previous schemes, the current application does not propose on-site parking spaces, as this would require the loss of the front garden area.
“With this in mind, we have demonstrated within a parking survey that there is sufficient vehicle parking available in the nearby car park and on the roads in the area.”
County Hall’s public consultation on the proposal finishes on 11th April and a decision is expected on 6th May.
