# 271 The Drive, Cranbrook, Ilford

- **Decision:** allowed, 11 September 2026
- **Decided by:** Planning Inspector: L Gardner
- **Authority:** Redbridge (London)
- **Appeal reference:** 6009905
- **Application reference:** 3511/25
- **Procedure:** written-representations
- **Development:** Single storey rear extension and change of use of dwelling to C4 small HMO for 6 people
- **Site context:** inside-settlement
- **Green Belt:** no
- **Framework applied:** August 2026 NPPF
- **Determinative policies:** HO7
- **Development plan policies:** Redbridge Local Plan 2018 LP5, LP26, LP29, LP39, London Plan 2021 H9, D6
- **Main issues:** family housing supply, living conditions, Epping Forest SAC
- **Tags:** tier-2, hmo, parties-consulted-on-2026-framework, living-conditions

## Summary
Change of use of a four-bed house to a six-person C4 HMO with a rear extension. Allowed. The loss of one family home was "marginal" in a street still more than 90% single dwellings, and the inspector found "no specific conflict with Policy HO7 of the Framework" (DL ¶11). The council's living-conditions objection rested on a misreading of the plans as three self-contained units.

## What made the difference
Low local HMO concentration and a plan-reading error by the council. The Framework was cited only through HO7 (housing for different groups). An occupancy cap was refused as "not realistically enforceable" (DL ¶29).

## Policy findings
- **HO7: accord.** no conflict — loss of one 4-bed family house marginal; HMO adds housing choice (DL 10-11)
- **LP5 (Redbridge LP): accord.** family-housing policy read as a whole supports a range of homes; >90% of The Drive remains single dwellings (DL 10-11)
- **N6: neutral.** Epping Forest SAC — no new dwelling so no likely significant effect; no mitigation contribution needed (DL 18); code mapped by harvester

## Key facts
- Council refused treating plans as three self-contained units (bedrooms labelled "units" with kitchens); appeal plans re-annotated (DL 2-4)
- Over 90% of properties along half of The Drive remain single dwellinghouses (DL 10)
- Occupancy-cap and no-conversion-of-communal-space conditions rejected as unenforceable/unnecessary (DL 28-29)

## Sources
- https://appeal-planning-decision.service.gov.uk/comment-planning-appeal/appeals/6009905
- https://appeal-planning-decision.service.gov.uk/published-document/ad758255-dad3-4304-b731-9c6b0ff03793

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Source: https://planningdistilled.org/research/england/nppf-navigator/decisions/PINS-6009905.html

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