'Cramped' housing for homeless people approved despite councillor concerns conditions are 'going backwards'

Plans for ‘uncomfortably cramped’ flats for homeless people have been voted through despite concerns it signalled a return to tenement housing with ‘hardly room to swing a cat’.

A divided Tameside planning committee has narrowly approved proposals to convert Enville House in Ashton-under-Lyne from ten bedsits into 12 one-bedroom studio flats.

The Victorian building will be used for social housing for people registered homeless or rough sleepers, which would be run by Ashton Pioneer Homes with the support of Stepping Stones Projects.

Council officers had said the plans should be rejected as the size of the flats falls below minimum space standards by a ‘significant amount’ and there would ‘little-to-no space’ for ‘normal’ activities.

Each of the proposed self-contained flats in the building, at the junction of Richmond Street and Dale Street, would have a joint bedroom and kitchenette area with an en-suite bathroom.

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In their report, Tameside planning officials state: “The significantly substandard floor areas for each flat would result in an uncomfortably cramped and enclosed living environment for its future occupiers.

“All but one of the proposed flats also do not provide for built in storage, or sufficient space for a chest of drawers or wardrobe.

“Additionally, the kitchenettes demonstrated on the floor plans comprise solely of a two unit workspace occupied by both a hob and sink area, leaving no space for food preparation or even an under counter fridge/freezer.

“Although the applicant is not required to demonstrate this level of detail on the plans, it is not clear how such basic amenities detailed above could be