Short-term let in historic Stockbridge Colonies approved

A new short-term let in a historic neighbourhood has had its licence approved despite over 31 community objections.

The application was for a flat in the historic Stockbridge Colonies, built in the 1860s by an early group in the cooperative movement.

Objectors to the licence application spoke at a Tuesday licensing meeting first, with one nearby resident saying: “My objections are not about the management of the property itself.

“They are more about principle, and the suitability of short-term lets in the Stockbridge Colonies and the impact they have on the community.”

Another objector noted that the neighbourhood had a strong community feel, with many elderly residents who rely on the support of long-term neighbours.

They also mentioned concerns over noise coming from the property, but said later they had not reported it to the council, due to not knowing what process to follow.

Ross Armstrong, a licensing solicitor representing the applicant, said many of the 31 objections were made from people living relatively far from the proposed site of the let.

He also said the property was small, and measures were being put in place to detect excess noise being made by any guests who would stay there.

Conservative councillor and committee convener Joanna Mowat said there were ‘strong feeling’ in areas of the city about the suitability of properties for short-term letting.

But she added: “What we do not have despite a lot of objections is objections linking any behaviour to the operation of this property to their objections.

“I can understand the strength of feeling, I can understand the concern, there are bits that can challenge this committee about how this process works.

“But what we have in front of us today is a competent application, and despite the objections there are no grounds for refusal I can see.”

Councillors on the committee have to work in narrow bounds set out in legislation when deciding to approve or deny a short-term let licence application.

Green councillor Chas Booth put forward a position that the applicant was not ‘fit and proper’ to hold the licence, referencing complaints about noise in one objector’s comments.

However, no other councillors supported Cllr Booth’s position, and the committee agreed Cllr Mowat’s position of approving the licence.