Boarding house approved for 216 William St, Granville

Residents fear a three-storey boarding house at Granville will spark crime and rob them of privacy after it was approved despite pleading with a panel against its construction.

Mayor Greg Cummings is critical of a planning panel’s decision to approve another boarding house.

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Residents fear a three-storey boarding house at Granville will spark crime and rob them of privacy after it was approved despite pleading with a panel against its construction.

Cumberland Local Planning Panel recently approved the 35-room house for 68 people at 216 William St.

Ochwada Pty Ltd submitted an application in November and the council received 34 submissions including one with a 13-petition signature objecting to the plans, which would require the demolition of a single-storey house that set a record for the suburb when it sold for $1.72 million at auction last May.

Before the panel approved the house, resident Xing Weiimplored members to reject it, fearing it would attract crime and inadequate parking because it had just seven car spaces.

The house at 216 William St, Granville, will be demolished to build the boarding house.

“It will cause chaos and will be very unsafe, unlivable for local residents,’’ she said.

“We hope to give our children a healthy environment. The boarding house should be in a commercial area or the edge of residential area like other boarding houses.”

Paul Evans opposed the plans, citing a lack of privacy after trees were removed and said the white design would be a magnet for vandals.

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“It will not blend in with the street,’’ he said.

“It will be an ugly, white sterile building. Being white it will be a perfect canvas for graffiti with almost no trees down the Carhullen St.”

Mr Evans said boarding house tenants suffered a higher percentage of mental health problems.

“This building, being different to the neighbouring buildings, could create a negative impression on these people,’’ he said.

However, architect Charles Hill said boarding houses were different to previous generations.

Cumberland Mayor Greg Cummings says western Sydney is shouldering the housing strain. Picture: Joel Carrett

Panel chairman David Stuart approved the application. He said the number of parking spots met planning policies and should only be used by residents and visitors.

He said four trees would be planted to replace any lost during construction.

But Cumberland Mayor Greg Cummings spurned the panel’s decision and said the council was home to too many boarding houses.

“It comes down to economics and the housing strain,’' he said.

“It’s unfortunate western Sydney’s picking up all the housing strain. I don’t think you see any on this on the north shore or eastern suburbs.”

He criticised the decision to approve the multi-storey building in the R2 residential zone.

“I believe they should be in more commercial areas and near better public transport,’’ he said.

“I think they should be close to town centres and public transport but, again, that’s decided to us by the State Government.

“Unfortunately a lot of our residents don’t know how many planning laws have been stripped by the State Government.”