Plans for a set of tiny newbuild flats suited for ‘people with no sex life’ because they have no room for a double bed have been given the green light.
Councillors had expressed concerns about the cramped conditions in the proposed flats in Cambridge as it meant tenants would have to accept their sex life was ‘completely without prospect’.
But permission has now been granted for three one-bedroom flats and a two-bedroom flat to be added to the top of the Edeva Court apartment block, where flats are worth around £400,000 each.
The city council had initially refused planning permission but reversed its decision after an appeal by Avon Ground Rents Ltd claimed the flats suited the needs of the local market.
Despite only having room for a single 3ft-bed, the flats met minimum space requirements and tick all the other boxes in regards to planning affairs – leaving little for local politicians to protest against.
The decision on the application was unanimously approved by the planning committee when put to a vote.
The city was recently told it had to increase the number of new residences built every year by 55 per cent as part of the Labour government’s target for 1.5 million extra homes in five years.
But Naomi Bennett, the leader of Cambridge’s Green group, raised concerns about the size of the proposed flats, saying ‘My only concern is whether these properties are actually not going to be a white elephant.
‘Even in rental properties for single people, the demand is for a double bedroom. Nobody wants to sort of admit that their social and sexual life is completely without prospect.’
Conservative councillor Delowar Hossain compared the development to the notorious ‘capsule hotels’ of Tokyo.
Criticising the government’s target of constructing 800 houses a day during the current administration, he warned it threatened ‘precious green belt, heritage and natural life’ with ‘local government and residents with no say in the planning process’.
‘Moreover, this council’s plan to build tiny, single-bed flats isn’t a solution. It should be a home, not a capsule hotel like Tokyo,’ he said.
‘These cramped spaces are not suitable for families. We must focus on building quality and affordable homes, not just chasing massive development numbers.’
Local residents also criticised the flats. An account manager in his 30s, who gave his name as Alex, said: ‘Now they’re building on top of buildings. It sounds very cramped. Maybe there’s a sofa friends can sleep on.’
Committee chairman Martin Smart, a Labour councillor, admitted it was ‘all being squeezed in’ but decided it was acceptable in terms of ‘planning matters’.
House building targets have soared under the new Labour government, although many of its ministers’ constituencies have avoided the biggest increase.
The requirement for Cambridge has risen from 687 per year to 1,068, while across the county the annual burden has gone up 25 per cent, from 4,627 to 5,761.
Nationwide, the annual figure is now 371,541, compared to the Tory government’s target of 305,223.
In 2021, a BBC File on 4 report identified potential dangers of adding rooftop developments to blocks of flats, with buildings left damaged and devalued.
Victims described extensive flooding, cracks and cladding falling off, while fire safety concerns were also raised.