Former Taunton cycle shop approved for 12-bedroom HMO

The site at 3 and 3A Roman Road is currently a mixed residential and commercial property, with the ground floor commercial unit most recently used as a cycle shop.

Under the transformation plans, which were approved on September 15, the building will be converted to provide accommodation for up to 12 residents.

The current site on Roman Road houses a former cycle shop and private residence (Image: Google Maps)

The new layout at 3 Roman Road will include a shared kitchen, dining and lounge facilities, along with cycle storage, refuse storage and outdoor communal space.

The project also includes demolishing an existing rear extension and replacing it with new single-storey and first-floor extensions.

Planning officers acknowledged the proposal would result in the loss of an employment unit, and noted that limited evidence had been provided to justify the closure of the former commercial premises.

The report states that the bicycle shop has been vacant for around six months, and planning officers concluded the harm would be limited because the business was small in scale and outside a designated employment area.

Taunton Town Council objected to the application during the consultation process, although no objections were received from neighbouring residents.

Somerset Council's planning officers ultimately recommended approval, saying the benefits of providing additional housing outweighed the loss of the former shop.

In their report, officers said: “The proposal would deliver additional residential accommodation in a sustainable urban location, make effective use of an existing building, and would not result in significant harm to residential amenity, character and appearance, highway safety, flood risk or other technical matters.”

The development doesn't include any on-site car parking (Image: Dandelion Seeds Architects)

The application was also supported by the fact Somerset Council is currently unable to demonstrate a five-year supply of deliverable housing land, a factor which planning officers said carried significant weight in favour of the development.

Applicants said the scheme would create much-needed accommodation in a highly accessible location close to public transport, employment opportunities and local services.

They argued that HMOs play an important role in providing lower-cost housing for groups such as young professionals and key workers.

Conditions attached to the permission will restrict occupancy of the new development to a maximum of 12 residents, and also require the provision of cycle storage and waste facilities before the accommodation can be occupied.