A LANDLORD’S plan to get permission to convert a former takeaway into two tiny and ‘woefully below standard’ bedsits despite already carrying out the work was rejected by the council.

Nurul Haque, who owned the building previously occupied by Polish takeaway Pierogarnia in Comer Road, had converted it into two bedsits without permission resulting in enforcement action by Worcester City Council in August.

Mr Haque had put forward a plan to get permission for the bedsits but withdrew it in September.

The plan was overwhelmingly rejected by the council’s planning committee at a meeting last Thursday (December 19).

Council planners said the two bedsit plan was “woefully below” the national standards for minimum floor space for new houses and flats and had tried to negotiate to make a proposal for the “more acceptable” plan of one flat so it was at least liveable if approved. Council planners had recommended it was approved as a one-flat plan.

City council planner Alan Coleman said: “It is a bit of a balancing exercise. Is it better to have a one-bed flat than either an empty building or a takeaway reintroduced?”

Councillor Richard Udall, who represents St John’s, said neighbours were “very angry and frustrated” that the conversion had already taken place without consent.

“This would create a total over-occupation of the site but that is a minor concern compared to the huge concerns I have about residential parking problems in this part of Comer Road already,” he said.

“It will undoubtedly create added pressure for parking in an area already facing significant pressure.”

Cllr Udall said it only seemed the plan had been recommended for approval by the council because it had already been converted. He hoped it could return to retail as the building had historically been a newsagents.

Highways bosses at Worcestershire County Council had raised an objection to the plan over a lack of parking.

Cllr Chris Cawthorne, who also represents St John’s, said the conversion was a “complete mess.”

Cllr Jenny Barnes said the front of the building which had been altered during the conversion was “very ugly” and “completely out-of-keeping with the rest of the street.”

She said: “Even if it was left as a flat it would be a blot on that area of the community.”