There would be 14 bedrooms and 28 ‘bed spaces’ in the town centre
Former offices in Tunbridge Wells are set to be converted into a home of multiple occupancy (HMO). The building is in a well-known road off the main drag through the town, Mount Pleasant.
An application has been submitted to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council to convert the large three-storey Victorian building with basement in Lonsdale Gardens, which includes altering the windows. The road is well-known as it is accessed through two large Grade II-listed entrance pillars, falls within a Conservation Area, and also leads to popular pub and restaurant, The Barn.
Planning permission is already granted for the conversion of 3 Lonsdale Gardens, the property in question, into four two-bedroom flats. That was given in 2023, so is still current.
This latest proposal from Grays Thurrock Properties in Longfield would create 14 rooms, for two people, each with a bedroom, living area and en-suite bathroom. Residents would share two kitchen areas, which would have room for dining, on the lower ground floor and first floor.
There would be corridors and staircases inside. Changes to the outside of the building would be limited to creating a bin and bike store, and alterations to windows.
SJM Planning for the applicant said: “The current proposal seeks to optimise the efficient use of an existing, vacant building by delivering high-quality HMO accommodation. The demand for well-managed and good standard HMO provision within Tunbridge Wells is recognised locally, particularly as it contributes to meeting the needs of smaller households and those requiring more flexible or affordable forms of accommodation.
“The scheme therefore represents a sustainable and effective reuse of a redundant office building consistent with national and local planning objectives favouring brownfield redevelopment and the creation of diverse housing options. This scheme has been designed to a high quality and aims to provide flexible accommodation to professionals.”
And it was in line with the council’s emerging policy about the need to deliver a balanced mix of housing types and tenures, said SJM. “The proposed HMO delivers a form of housing that is under-provided within Tunbridge Wells and caters to groups such as young professionals, lower income households, and temporary or transitional residents.
“The proposal therefore diversifies local housing choice and supports the delivery of a more inclusive and balanced housing stock consistent with the aspirations of emerging policy H1,” it said. SJM also argued parking spaces were not deemed necessary by council officers for the previous application, and this judgement should remain in place for this application.
“Those conclusions remain fully applicable to the current proposal. The HMO use is expected to generate lower car ownership levels than conventional flats due to the typical demographic of HMO occupants and the building’s proximity to the town centre and public transport.
“Secure cycle storage will also be provided, supporting sustainable travel choices. In this context, the proposal is not anticipated to result in any adverse impacts on highway capacity or safety.”
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