Forfar HMO plan set for appeal to Scottish Government
Plans to turn a former Forfar care home into a House in Multiple Occupation have been referred to the Scottish Government after being refused by Angus Council.
Ayrshire-based Veriton Group put forward its proposal for Lochbank Manor residential home, on the edge of Forfar Loch Country Park, last November.
The two-storey building operated for a number of years as a home for the elderly, but closed when its registration was cancelled after operators failed to address concerns raised by the Care Inspectorate.
It was put up for sale and its new owners announced plans to convert it into a 38-room house in multiple occupation.
The proposal sparked huge controversy in the town after rumours circulated it could be used to house asylum seekers, prompting Angus Council to issue an official statement in response.
The local authority took the unusual step of removing hundreds of objections from its online planning portal. These were screened for potentially defamatory content and reinstated after officials redacted a number of public comments.
The applicants also addressed the issue by saying they did not intend to use it as asylum seeker accommodation.
They instead said that they intended to work with charities and other organisations to identify the best use for the building.
In May, members of the development standards committee ruled on the Lochbank change of use application, after a site visit the Graham Crescent property.
The committee members saw the building had been boarded up due to a number of vandalism attacks since the home’s closure.
Council planning officials presented a report which recommended the proposal should be approved with conditions.
It said speculation around the proposed use was not relevant to the planning application.
Planners also said there was “no reasonable basis” to assume HMO approval would lead to an increase in antisocial behaviour.
They also said bringing the large property back into use could contribute to the vitality of the area, rather than it being left empty.
But committee members unanimously dismissed the official recommendation.
Concerns were raised about the scale of the project, which would become probably the largest HMO in Angus.
One councillor feared Lochbank would become a “glorified dormitory”.
Planning committee convener David Cheape said the application had generated “considerable interest”.
“For me it comes down to whether this building, in its location, is suitable to be operated as an HMO, irrespective of who the occupants are.
“My gut feel is this will bring more problems rather than less.”
A notice of appeal has now appeared on the Scottish Government Planning and Environmental Appeals Division portal, although officials say their current workload will have an impact on the bid.
It said: “Documents will be uploaded as soon as possible. Due to the unprecedented high volume of new appeals it may take longer than normal.”