CONTROVERSIAL plans to turn the upper floors of a furniture shop into two houses of multiple occupation have been refused.
Sheffield Council’s west and north planning board rejected the scheme above Stocksbridge Furnishing, Manchester Road, Stocksbridge.
Councillors on the board said the planned flats were ‘not acceptable in the 21st century’ and lacked basic amenities.
Nineteen residents had objected, along with city and town councillors.
Councillors on the planning board decided against planning officers’ recommendation to grant permission because they felt the flats, which would have had shared washing and cooking facilities and no reception rooms, would be too small.
Members of the board were also worried about a lack of fire escape.
Neighbouring residents had voiced concerns about the type of residents housed in the building - with worries it could be used as a bail hostel.
They also said the two parking spaces proposed for up to 12 residents were insufficient.
Councillors voted unanimously to refuse permission.
One board member, Burngreave Labour councillor, Ibrar Hussain, said: “Living conditions must be satisfactory and I cannot vote for this.”
Chris Lambert, a neighbouring resident who objected and attended yesterday’s planning meeting, said: “We have got what we came for.”
But Patrick Metcalf, who owns the building, said: “The application had been revised to take into account concerns.
“I plan to appeal the decision.”
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