CREDITON town councillors have criticised plans to turn a dilapidated warehouse on Exeter Road into a 10-bed shared home, branding them “overdevelopment” and “substandard”.

Ian Roberts is currently seeking planning permission to convert the vacant building, which was once used as a “surplus military warehouse and workshop”, into an HMO and refurbish two adjoining shops.

The house would have 10 en-suite bedrooms, a lounge, a kitchen/ dining room and a garden and TV room. Each room tenant would have their own individual mailbox and key, and there would be seven car parking spaces and five bicycle parking spaces.

The two commercial units on site would also be refurbished and be 166 square metres in size in total.

Cllr Liz Brookes-Hocking led the charge when Crediton Town Council voted to object to the plans on Tuesday, March 3. (Mid Devon District Council will be the authority that decides whether to grant planning permission).

“My big concern is that I have not seen any assessment for the requirement for houses in multiple occupation in Crediton in terms of who this would be intended to house,” said Cllr Brookes-Hocking.

"It wasn't possible to work out the dimensions of the rooms but some of the living spaces are minute, more like you would provide for a student, there's no storage space.

"There's very little communal space. It looked like the lounge wasn't much more than nine or 10 feet by 10 feet.

“There's a small utility space for 10 people, washing machines, dryers. There's no outdoor bin storage provision at all.

“An HMO has to have really good fire alarm systems and emergency lighting. None of that is there.

“It wasn't clear what the access for pedestrians into the building is.

“There's seven parking spaces. It's not clear which development they're for. Are they for the commercial units or are they for the occupants?

“There's only storage for five bikes, so if more people wanted to cycle then... somebody would not have a secure space to put their bicycle.

“They're looking at replacing timber windows with UPVC and although the building isn't listed... I don't think they ought to be changing the historic facade of that building because it's an old one and it's very prominent when you come into the town.

“None of the things that we all take for granted in our houses are present in this accommodation and I think it's really substandard and I would object strongly to it being developed in this way.”

Cllr Joyce Harris was also concerned about the building’s capacity.

“I live in that area. I know what the parking is like. There isn't enough parking,” she said.

“But also, 10 rooms there, that is definitely overdevelopment, and I think we should not agree to it at all.”

Cllr Natalia Letch suggested that the council not object to the plans, but instead list their concerns as planning conditions. Nevertheless, councillors voted to oppose the project.

You can see the application on Mid Devon District Council’s website under reference 26/00208/FULL.