- Decision
- allowed, 27 August 2026
- Decided by
- Planning Inspector: Andrew Fulford
- Authority
- Harrow (London)
- Appeal reference
- 6009442
- Application reference
- PL/0548/26
- Procedure
- written representations
- Development
- Change of use from 6-bed HMO (C4) to 7-bed HMO (sui generis)
- Site context
- inside settlement
- Green Belt
- No
- Framework applied
- August 2026 NPPF
- Determinative policies
- Harrow LP HO10
- Development plan policies
- Harrow Local Plan 2021-2041 (2026) HO10
- Main issues
- HMO location; neighbour living conditions; occupier living conditions
Summary
Enlargement of an existing HMO in Harrow from six to seven occupants was allowed. It accorded with Harrow Local Plan policy HO10. The corpus index's "HO10" tag refers to that local policy, not NPPF HO10 (exception sites). The decision is plan-led with no substantive Framework reasoning. A separate costs decision exists.
What made the difference
The property was already an HMO, so there was no loss of family housing. One extra occupier made no discernible difference. The inspector did not re-consult on the 2026 Framework because "Those parts of the Framework most relevant to this appeal have not been significantly amended" (DL ¶3).
Policy findings
Policy codes are those of the National Planning Policy Framework (August 2026) unless a development plan is named.
| Policy | Finding | Weight | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harrow LP HO10 | accord | local plan HMO policy (not NPPF HO10) - existing HMO so no loss of family housing; one extra occupier not discernible (DL 5-16) |
Key facts
- Existing 6-bed HMO in a street of family houses; lounge converted to a seventh bedroom
- Inspector did not seek submissions on the August 2026 Framework as relevant parts "not significantly amended" (DL 3)
Sources
This note is one of the decisions behind the NPPF 2026 Navigator, which shows how each Framework test has been applied across all the decisions in the database. Also available as Markdown.