PLANS to turn a Conservation Area home into bedsits have been approved by councillors, after they were told there was no planning reason to refuse the development.

The application to convert 51 Hanover Square into a seven-bed house in multiple occupation went before Bradford Council’s Area Planning Panel on Wednesday.

Members heard there would be two communal kitchen/dining rooms, three shared bathrooms, and a new bin store structure would be built to the front of the property.

The property dates back to the 1840s and is in the Eldon Place Conservation Area.

Applicant Jawad Saleemi told the panel he was aware that Bradford’s housing market needed more high-quality HMO accommodation.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: 51 Hanover Square51 Hanover Square (Image: google)

There had been numerous objectors to the plans, including some questioning the type of people who may live in the HMO.

Mr Saleemi assured councillors all future residents would be DBS checked, adding: “There will be people with blue collar jobs.”

Planning officer Amin Ibrar said: “It is not a planning consideration to judge who might move into a house in the future.”

He said there had been appeal cases where Councils had done just that only to have their decisions overturned by Government planning inspectors.

Members were also told that Government planning rules allow HMOs of up to six rooms to be created without the need for planning permission.

Members agreed there were no planning reasons to refuse the application, and voted to approve the HMO.