Posted: Fri 9th Sep 2022

Former B&B in Llangollen to be turned into HMO after plans approved

North Wales news and information
This article is old - Published: Friday, Sep 9th, 2022

A Llangollen guesthouse will be converted into a house of multiple occupation (HMO) after Denbighshire County Council’s planning committee granted permission for a change of use.

Councillors approved the application by Nadarajah Pragash to change the former Four Poster Bed and Breakfast premises on Mill Street into an HMO for healthcare workers.

The former B&B will house staff working at the town’s 28-bed Headland Nursing Home operated by Deevale Health.

Houses of multiple occupation (HMOs) typically see developers split large buildings up into small flats where residents share bathrooms and/or kitchens.

The Four Poster Bed and Breakfast premises will be split into ten residential units, housing up to eight workers, who will have ensuite facilities but share a living room, dining room, and kitchen.

Eight of the units will be located in the main building. Two units will be in a smaller detached two-storey building on the east side of the courtyard.

Cllr Karen Edwards, who backed the plans, said: “I understand the concerns about the creation of HMOs across the county, but being a Llangollen member, I’m also aware of the specific concerns that surround this application.

“I acknowledge the proposal is contrary to policy, although I understand that there are other material considerations that are relevant to this case.

“The applicant has stated in the planning policy statement that the occupancy of the property is to house key care workers needed to support Headland Care Home operated by Deevale Health Care.”

Cllr Edwards then proposed that the HMO was only used to house healthcare workers employed by Deevale Health Care for a period of three years.

The Llangollen councillor also proposed that the property should revert to being a guesthouse if Deevale Health Care ceased to use it for that purpose.

But Cllr Gwyneth Ellis had some concerns.

She said: “I understand the number of people who are going to be living in the house isn’t changing, but I suspect it will change considerably from being a small guesthouse, which isn’t at full capacity at all times, to being a home where people live at all times.

“That will be quite an increase in the use.”

She added: “The number of bedrooms is going to be increasing from eight to ten so not remaining the same.”

Council officer Georgia Crawley explained there was a condition that ensured the building would only be used by eight people, not ten, and that an additional building could only be used for storage.

Seventeen councillors voted in favour of backing the report, which had been recommended by officers for approval, and the application was granted.

By Richard Evans – Local Democracy Reporter



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