Guildford: Boarding house rejected at Cardigan St

A four-storey boarding house at Guildford has been rejected after residents expressed concerns over loss of privacy, overshadowing and attracting a transient community.

A boarding house was proposed for Cardigan St, Guildford.

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A four-storey boarding house at Guildford has been rejected after residents expressed concerns over loss of privacy, overshadowing and attracting a transient community.

Baini Design proposed to build the 11-room house with a manager’s room, six-space basement parking and two motorcycle spaces at 70 Cardigan St after first lodging the application in August.

The detached house where the boarding house was earmarked.

Despite the street zoned as high density, Cumberland Council said the application failed to comply with the character of the area.

Council documents also said Baini did not provide a communal kitchen and inadequate parking.

The report said: “Whilst a boarding house is permitted with consent in the R4 zone, and is appropriate in this location given the proximity to transport and services, the design of the proposed development does not respond appropriately to the constraints of the narrow site and would have unacceptable impacts on the streetscape and on surrounding properties.”

A Cardigan St resident who lives next door to the proposed house said a block of units had already gone ahead across the road and more development would block traffic flow.

In her submission, the mother-of-three said the house would attract people “coming and going frequently, which presents its own set of social issues”.

“As a mother of young children and representing families within our complex, I have major concerns for the safety and wellbeing of our children and our property,’’ she said.

“A boarding house attracts those who prefer a transient lifestyle, it does not encourage an environment with a strong community base but has rather the opposite effect. It usually means you do not get to know your neighbours are often oblivious to who actually lives next door due to the high turnover of tenants.”

Baini Design did not respond to a request for comment.