House of Multiple Occupancy cap per street request update given to Derry & Strabane Council
Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Planning Committee have been told that there is a lack of DfI guidance around lowering the maximum number of HMOs (Houses in Multiple Occupancy) per street in the district.
Policy HOU 13 of council’s Local Development Plan (LDP) plan strategy applies an “interim transitional position” of allowing no more than 30 percent of houses within any street to be granted for further HMO development, until the Local Policies Plan is adopted.
However, council members have requested clarification on the practical and legal steps in changing this interim position to no more than 10 percent.
An Officers’ report to members at February’s Committee said that as there are no “relevant regulations” relating to Plan Strategy revision or amendment in the Planning (LDP) Regulations 2015, or “relevant guidance in the various Local Development Plan Practice Notes”, officers have written to DfI around the steps necessary to implement the change.
A council Officer confirmed that council received a response from DfI on Monday, February 2, confirming that they do not have guidance in relation to the issue.
“They are seeking to meet with officers to discuss,” they added. “So we will meet with them and bring back a further update for members for the March meeting.”
Derry City and Strabane District Council members have previously warned that the designation of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) management areas, which would allow for up to 30 per cent of dwellings on a street to be made up of HMOs, must be subject to public consultation.
At last May’s Full Council Meeting People Before Profit councillor Shaun Harkin drew attention to a leaflet handed out to members and officers, by the group Concerned Residents Around Magee (CRAM), asking several questions about council’s HMO policy.
CRAM representatives had previously warned that a 10% cap on Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO) on streets near Magee University is needed to avoid “ghettoization”.
Then in June, Derry City and Strabane District Council members approved the Council’s Local Development Plan (LDP), despite concerns that it lacks a 10% cap on Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) in the district.
At that June Full Council Meeting, Sinn Féin councillor Grace Uí Niallais put forward a successful motion, requesting that council supportthe campaign by CRAM, for the 10% cap to be applied.