Northside's Old Vicarage could go from six to ten residents under a not-for-profit's plan Plan to take The Old Vicarage on Northside Road in Workington from six to ten residents
Marra Mode is how your mate would tell you down the pub over a pint. Switch it off for the straight version.
A not-for-profit wants to go from six to ten bedrooms at The Old Vicarage on Northside Road. No building work, just more people in a house that's already licensed for shared living. Neighbours can have their say.
If you live in Northside, or you keep an eye on what's happening with housing and support in Workington, this one's worth knowing about.
A not-for-profit called The Well Communities CIC wants to put the number of people living at The Old Vicarage on Northside Road up from six to ten. It's that big three-storey Victorian house, and it's already licensed as a shared house, an HMO, where folk who aren't related share the kitchen and bathrooms.
If it gets the nod, it'd go from a small six-bed HMO to a large ten-bed one, one person per room. They say there's no building work at all, inside or out.
The Well Communities is based in Morecambe and gives people a roof and support when they've been hit by addiction, homelessness and other problems. They'd run the place themselves.
Their planning statement, by Red Raven Design in Cockermouth, says it "makes fuller use of a building that is already licensed", and finishes with: "The proposal delivers four additional bedspaces of well-managed, affordable shared housing through a community interest company."
Going from a small to a large HMO needs planning permission, so that's why it's gone to the council. Big HMOs also need a licence from the council's housing team, who check room sizes, fire safety and how it's run.
There's no decision date yet. The council will look at what neighbours and the likes of highways say first.
What to do: look up The Old Vicarage, Northside Road, on the planning pages of Cumberland Council's website. You can read the plans and comment for or against. Stick to planning stuff, like parking, noise or what it means for the street.
The Well Communities CIC has applied to Cumberland Council to turn The Old Vicarage on Northside Road, Workington, from a six-bedroom shared house into a ten-bedroom one, for people affected by addiction, homelessness and other difficulties.
This is for people living in Northside, Workington, and anyone who follows housing and support services in the town.
The Well Communities CIC has applied to Cumberland Council to increase the number of people living at The Old Vicarage on Northside Road from six to ten. The three-storey Victorian house already runs as a licensed house in multiple occupation (HMO), where unrelated people share facilities.
If approved, it would change from a small six-bedroom HMO to a large ten-bedroom HMO, with one person per bedroom. The application says no building work, internal alterations or changes to the outside of the building are proposed.
The Well Communities is a not-for-profit community interest company, registered in Morecambe, which provides accommodation and support for people affected by addiction, homelessness and other difficulties. It would manage the house directly.
A design and access statement by Red Raven Design of Cockermouth says the increase "makes fuller use of a building that is already licensed", and concludes: "The proposal delivers four additional bedspaces of well-managed, affordable shared housing through a community interest company."
A change from a small to a large HMO needs planning permission, which is why the application has gone to the council. Large HMOs also need a licence from the council's housing team, which checks things like room sizes, fire safety and management.
No decision date has been published yet. The council will weigh up any comments from neighbours and consultees, such as highways, before deciding.
What you can do: search for The Old Vicarage, Northside Road, on the planning applications pages of Cumberland Council's website to read the plans and leave a comment, in support or against, before the consultation closes. Comments must be about planning matters, such as parking, noise or the effect on the area.