Councillors have potentially paved the way for more student accommodation in the centre of St Andrews by refusing to support half a dozen objections to a house in multiple occupation (HMO) application.
The regulation and licensing committee voted 5-3 not to uphold the six objections submitted in relation to an HMO application from the Palkhiwala family, who are based in New Rochelle, New York.
Baji and Christine Palkhiwala and son Richard have applied for a licence which will allow up to five people to stay at 15 Murray Park, an area which is largely home to guest houses and student accommodation.
Objections ranged from concerns about the number of HMOs in St Andrews and the impact on parking to fears of noise, rubbish and anti-social behaviour.
However, committee members let the application proceed.
Brian Taylor, who runs a guest house next door, represented himself and three other objectors and claimed the flat which is occupied by Baji Palkhiwala’s son Richard was being used at times as a “drinking den”.
“We own the property next door and I have had several occasions where I have had to ask them to cut down on the noise,” he said. “There have been quite a considerable number of persons in the property and it’s been like a party atmosphere.
“There have also been garden parties out the back where there’s been 20 or 30 people drinking and making noise.”
Mr Taylor also said he was speaking for his daughter Rebecca, who lodged a separate objection.
“She finds it, along with hundreds of others, extremely difficult to get on the property ladder because of the amount of buy-to-lets in the town,” he continued.
Solicitor Ronnie Murphy, who represented the Palkhiwalas, said his clients planned to employ a management company to look after the property, and added that the application has been limited to five people staying in the house even though up to 13 people could potentially be applied for.
Mr Murphy also noted that it was his clients’ aim to let out the property to graduates, teaching assistants or professors.
“These people are perhaps more mature and would be looking to minimise any issues of noise, rubbish, bins etc,” he said.Tourist useMr Murphy went on to highlight how 80% of the properties locally were guest houses, and suggested an HMO would be beneficial to the town, as the property would typically be free for tourist use in the summer. He said the Palkhiwalas had been “caught out twice” in terms of rubbish as they had been unfamiliar with how seagulls behave in a seaside town, but there had been no problems since.
The solicitor similarly suggested objections to noise and anti-social behaviour had tended to be “very generalised and vague,” also noting there had been no police reports or council night-time noise team intervention relating to the property.
Asked about this, Mr Taylor said he “didn’t feel it was necessary” to contact the police and wanted to deal with the neighbours directly, although he would certainly do so in future.
Mr Murphy said he “sympathised dearly” with Miss Taylor’s (Rebecca) viewpoint and the predicament many young local people find themselves in, but added, “I think a three-storey townhouse is not within the price range of a first-time buyer in St Andrews.”
But after Mr Murphy noted that a precedent had been set regarding students and not generalising their behaviour, in relation to an application at nearby Queen’s Gardens, Councillor David MacDiarmid seized upon the remark.
“This committee attended Queen’s Gardens on a site visit and, quite honestly, it was like a midden,” he told the solicitor. “The windows were manky, the place was a mess, and I also think the flippant remark about Rebecca Taylor was shocking sure she’s a young lass and she can’t afford a property like that, but it’s a flippant remark to make. I think we’re far too down the road with HMOs in the town.”
Mr Murphy replied by describing Mr MacDiarmid’s accusation as “quite unpleasant” and asked him to withdraw it, although Mr MacDiarmid refused to do so.
Councillor Mike Rumney said he believed the assurances given were adequate and proposed the committee should not uphold the objections, which was seconded by Councillor Donald Macgregor, while Councillor Bill Sangster and Mr MacDiarmid said they should be upheld.