Council planners have approved proposals to turn a Grade II Listed property in Bramley into a house in multiple occupation (HMO).
Applicant Sue Corbett wanted to turn the Upper Town Street building, which dates back to the late 18th century and previously had a commercial use, into a five-bedroom HMO. A HMO is a property rented out by at least three people who are not from one household (such as a family) but share facilities like the bathroom and kitchen.
261 Upper Town Street is a Grade II Listed Building that represents one of the few remaining examples along Upper Town Street of ‘old’ Bramley which was demolished by Leeds City Council’s efforts to regenerate the area in the 1970s.
In approving the application, a council planning officer’s report stated: “The existing building seemingly had consent for extensive renovations in the 1970’s and 80’s and this has resulted in a building who’s heritage values are more contained within its structural fabric and external appearance than any internal features.
“As a result the interior of the building appears largely modern with the majority of its heritage values being within its room proportions and remaining structural elements such as chimney breasts and roof timbers.”
The report notes the property appears to have been earmarked for demolition in 1975, like many of its neighbours, but was probably saved from this by its Listing designation.