Developer wants to cram 56 people into London house with one shared kitchen

A property developer has applied to transform an east London townhouse to fit up to 56 people with just one shared kitchen.

Dilawar Properties applied to Newham Council to turn the Victorian building on Romford Road in Forest Gate into a ‘co living space’.

The application said it would create 28-units with each room including a double bed, kitchenette and ensuite shower room plus toilet.

Developers also want to build a communal games room and a reception for residents.

But despite their promises, the council’s Local Development Committee were recommended to not approve the application due to the ‘poor quality’ of rooms offered.

The size of each bedroom ranges from 14.7m2 to 22.3m2, which goes against London Plan guidance for ‘large-scale, purpose-built, shared living’.

Planning officers said they were concerned the small sizes would be detrimental to residents’ long-term health, and several of the rooms would not receive enough sunlight throughout the year.

The shared kitchen’s size of 12.3m2 also falls well below set standards, with east London HMO Guidance saying the kitchen would need to be at least 57.5m2.

The development also fails to provide enough wheelchair rooms, and the extensions required would be overbearing for neighbours.

The planning committee said: ‘The proposed development would give rise to a poor standard of accommodation to the detriment of future occupiers by reason of the failure to provide sufficiently sized internal and external communal areas.

‘The proposal would contradict the large-scale shared living guidance and give rise to restrictive and isolating living conditions to the detriment of the health and wellbeing of future occupants.’

The committee will hear and decide on the plans next week.

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