Councillors in Bridgend have approved plans for a new house in multiple occupation (HMO) despite describing it as one of the worst applications they had seen.
The plans for the house on Oxford Street, Pontycymer, were brought before councillors at a planning committee meeting held on October 15, 2026. They asked for permission to convert a traditional three-bedroom mid-terrace house into a four-bedroom HMO with a shared lounge area and kitchen.
They were given the go-ahead despite what councillors felt was a "thoroughly disingenuous application" where developers had done the bare minimum to get past the planning process.
Concerns raised by neighbours
Speaking on behalf of neighbours in the street, a representative said the plans were not in the best interests of the local community and asked for them to be refused.
A report highlighted that ten objections had been made from residents of Oxford Street, including one from a local councillor and Labour MS Huw Irranca-Davies. These focused on issues with a lack of available on-street parking, along with potential impacts of noise and anti-social behaviour, with fears about an over-concentration of similar housing types that could result in a loss of community cohesion.
Additional concerns were raised over the quality of the planned accommodation that would have just one toilet shared between four residents, bedrooms they felt were an insufficient size for one person, and a lack of usable outdoor space.
Developer's response and committee reaction
A representative speaking for the developer said the application complied with both national and local planning policies, noting there were no other HMOs within 50 metres of the location. He added that the development was "quite modest" and was intended to be managed by a professional housing association once completed.
Addressing the chamber he said if members were minded to refuse the proposal, it would ultimately be given to Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW) as a planning appeal, where he felt it would be approved.
The statement drew an immediate response from Cllr Mark John who said the representation was one of the worst he'd heard and amounted to a threat to the committee. Labour councillor Simon Griffiths said it was a "thoroughly disingenuous application" noting that while he wanted to reject it he could find no material planning reasons to do so.
He added that it was the worst application he'd seen with a number of inaccuracies around the location of a local train station, shops and a footpath that had closed - and what he said was the "absolute minimum" they could provide to pass local planning guidance. Independent councillor Ian Spiller echoed the sentiment saying it was an "appalling application" with the authority and residents being treated with absolute disdain.
Approval and separate application
Officers at the meeting said while they understood the property seemed small the scheme was compliant with both their policies on HMOs and supplementary planning guidance. They recommended the plans for approval as they felt they would not have an unacceptable impact on residential amenity, with a parking impact assessment that raised no concerns over its change of use.
The plans were eventually passed with a vote of five members in favour, two against and four abstentions. They came alongside a separate application to turn a three-bedroom house at Litchard Park, Bridgend into a four-bedroom house in multiple occupation. This was also passed by the committee after discussions, despite receiving 24 objections from members of the public.
